Putin accuses U.S. of vote ‘interference’

President Vladimir Putin is suggesting that a recent flurry of Russian sports doping allegations could be a U.S. attempt to interfere in next year’s Russian presidential election.

On Thursday, four Russian crosscountry skiers were found guilty of doping at the 2014 Sochi Olympics. In all, six Russian skiers have been found guilty by an International Olympics Committee commission.

Putin says “and the controlling stake is in the U.S.,” where sponsors and broadcasters are concentrated.

Putin says “in response to our alleged interference in their elections, they want to create problems during the election of the president of Russia.”