Russian President Vladimir Putin has attacked the International Paralympic Committee and the Court of Arbitration for Sport for banning all Russian athletes from the Paralympic Games next month.
Putin was speaking in Moscow, where he addressed all of Russia's Olympic medalists on their return home from the Brazil. Russia finished fourth in the medal table, despite the team not competing in any athletics or weightlifting competitions. 19 gold, 18 silver and 19 bronze medals were all won in Rio by Russian athletes.
All the members of Team Russia in attendance were thanked by Putin for "passing a severe test with dignity", according to RT.com. The team were also congratulated as they "confirmed the strong position of Russia in the world of sport".
Presenting awards to gold medal winners of 2016 Olympics #Rio2016 https://t.co/dZ6fpcJpgG pic.twitter.com/9tCA5CVa6H
— Vladimir Putin (@PutinRF_Eng) August 25, 2016
After congratulating the Olympic team, Putin turned is focus to the Paralympic competitors that had hoped to be competing in Brazil next month. Earlier this week, the Court of Arbitration for Sport confirmed that no Russian athletes would be allowed take part in competitions.
"The decision to disqualify the Paralympic team [from Brazil] is beyond law and morality," Putin said. "I feel sorry for those who make such decisions, because they cannot understand that [those decisions] are humiliating them."
Russia finished second in the medal table at London 2012, winning 36 gold, 38 silver and 28 bronze medals.
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