Russian President Vladimir Putin has revealed that he would seek the World Anti-Doping Agency and the International Olympic Committee's intervention over the decision to exclude Russian track and field athletes from the Rio Olympics.
“Of course, it is unfair,” Putin told editors from leading international news agencies at a supper on the sidelines of the St. Petersburg International Economic Forum.
“Responsibility must be always personalized. If someone in your family has committed an offence is it fair to prosecute all the family members ... the people who have no relation to the violations - why should they suffer for others?”
He added that this does not fit into “any framework of a civilized behaviour” and that he hoped a solution would be found.
“I hope that we will discuss this further with our colleagues in the anti-doping structure and hope for an appropriate response from the International Olympic Committee.”
