Putin expressed hope for an end to discrimination against athletes from Russia

On March 18, Russian President Vladimir Putin expressed hope that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) would stop "playing tricks" and discriminating against athletes from the Russian Federation at international competitions.

"I would really like the IOC to stop playing tricks and stop using international sports as a tool of political struggle, and move on to what Pierre de Coubertin, the founder of modern Olympism, said," he said at a meeting with members of the Russian government.

Putin also praised the performance of the Russian Paralympians at the competitions in Italy, calling it a real feat.

The news is being updated