Russian President Vladimir Putin (REUTERS File photo)
Russian President Vladimir Putin has accused the International Olympic Committee (IOC) of "ethnic discrimination" against Russian athletes.
At the international forum "Russia - A Great Sporting Power" on Thursday, Putin criticized the non-admission of Russian athletes to international competitions and said the Olympic Games are used as "instrument of political pressure on people who have no connection to politics," according to Russian state media.
This is "effectively racist ethnic discrimination," he said.
Putin also said that an invitation to the Olympic Games was not about the best sporting achievements, but about a "privilege" and about "any political gestures that have no relation to sport at all."
The Russian president said that his country remained committed to Olympic principles such as solidarity and equality and relied on sport as a "unifying force."
The IOC suspended the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) around a week ago, but no decision has been made yet on whether Russian athletes will be allowed to compete at the 2024 Paris Games and the Winter Games Milano Cortina in 2026 as neutrals.
The body again said that a decision will be taken "at the appropriate time."
The IOC initially banned Russia and its ally Belarus from international sports events after Moscow invaded Ukraine in February 2022. However, a few months ago, it recommended to sports federations to allow Russians and Belarusians a return, as neutral athletes in individual events and under strict conditions.
This recommendation, however, doesn't concern their participation at the Summer Olympics in Paris next year and the Winter Olympics Milano Cortina in 2026.
