MOSCOW, 19 December (BelTA) - The World Anti-Doping Agency's decision to suspend Russian athletes from the world's biggest competitions is unfair and politically motivated, Russian President Vladimir Putin said as he fielded questions at the annual big press conference for Russian and foreign media in Moscow on 19 December, BelTA has learned.
“I believe that this is not only an unfair decision. This decision defies common sense and law," Vladimir Putin said. He recalled that Russia was already punished at the previous Olympic Games. “Now the country is being punished again for the same thing,” the Russian president said.
Vladimir Putin stressed that punishment must be individual. “The majority of Russian athletes are clean. How can they punish them collectively?” the Russian president asked.
“This decision is politically motivated,” Vladimir Putin said.