Putin says sports ban a political decision
Russian leader Vladimir Putin on Monday slammed a ban on his country at major sports events.
The World Anti-Doping agency unveiled the move earlier in the day and Putin called it a 'political decision.'
WADA handed down the decision over Russia's tampering with doping tests.
However, Putin says Moscow has grounds to appeal the ban.
(SOUNDBITE) (Russian) RUSSIAN PRESIDENT, VLADIMIR PUTIN, SAYING:
"Punishments cannot not be collective and affect people that had nothing to do with certain violations. But if someone in WADA makes decisions about collective punishment, I think one has every right to say that these decisions are not based on care for clean international sport, but on political interests that have nothing in common with sport and international Olympic movement."
The group slapped Moscow with a four-year ban on events that include the Olympics and World Cup.
Despite that, clean Russian athletes can still compete at these events.
As was the case during the 2018 Winter Olympics in South Korea - they can't compete under their national flag or anthem.
In 2018, they were instead called 'Olympic Athletes from Russia and marched under a flag featuring the Games' five rings.
