Ban draws flak from Russia

Moscow, Dec. 6: Russia on Wednesday reacted with disappointment but no great surprise after the country was banned from the Winter Olympic Games, while President Vladimir Putin was yet to comment on a possible boycott.

Putin was set to make a speech in Moscow in which he was expected to give his view on the International Olympic Committee’s decision. So far the Kremlin has not commented.

The head of Russia’s olympic committee, Alexander Zhukov, told the IOC on Tuesday that punishing clean was “unjust immoral”.

Russian media expressed regret at the decision while welcoming the possibility of some athletes participating, albeit under tight restrictions.

“It’s very hard to take accusations and punishments. But the fate of our athletes and preserving our place in the Olympic family is more important,” wrote the Sport Express daily. get by without the pro- Kremlin daily headlined page, stressing Izvestia that “Russian Olympic athletes will defend the honour of the Motherland under any banner.”

“Will Russia be at the Olympics but without a flag?” Sport Express newspaper headlined its front page, calling the decision “unprecedented”.

It slammed the IOC decision as “very harsh and in some ways even humiliating for Russia,” citing the life bans on attending the games for ex- sports minister Vitaly Mutko, now first deputy prime minister.

Some top sports figures agreed, with ice hockey forward Ilya Kovalchuk telling TASS state news agency: “We must go to the Olympics. Refusing is surrender.”

Pole vault star Isinbayeva said speaking to TASS: “Addressing our athletes, I want to say that they should absolutely not despair and should continue training for the games.”

Pro- Kremlin media focused on discrediting Grigory Rodchenkov, the whistleblower who gave evidence of a state- controlled doping programme in which he played a central role.— AFP