Putin calls ban on Russia’s Paralympic team inhumane

Moscow, August 25  

Russian President Vladimir Putin has attacked the ban on his country from the Rio de Janeiro Paralympics as immoral and inhumane.

Russia was suspended on August 7 over what International Paralympic Committee president Philip Craven called a “medals over morals” culture with evidence of state-sponsored doping.

The ban was confirmed Tuesday when the Court of Arbitration of Sport rejected a Russian appeal.

Speaking to Olympic athletes at the Kremlin on Thursday, Putin says the “decision to disqualify our Paralympians is outside the bounds of law, morality and humanity.”      Special competitions will be organised in Russia for banned Paralympic athletes with winners getting the same prizes they would have had from success in Rio.

The Russian government awards cash prizes to Olympic and Paralympic medalists.

The Paralympics start September 7. — AP