Russian President Vladimir Putin has hit back at sanctions levelled on the nation’s athletes as he honoured Winter Olympic medallists at the Kremlin.
Russia was officially banned from Beijing 2022 as part of doping sanctions, with competitors appearing for the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC).
But that did not stop the controversy after teenage figure skater Kamila Valieva was allowed to participate despite a failed doping test two months earlier.
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The result was revealed only on February 8, one day after she had already helped the ROC win gold in the team event.
Putin claimed on Tuesday that Valieva’s performances could not have been achieved with the help of any banned substances.
“Through her work, she brought the sport to the level of a real form of art,” Putin said.
“Such perfection cannot be achieved dishonestly with the help of additional substances, manipulations.
“We very well know that these additional…
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