MOSCOWPresident Vladimir Putin told Russian Olympic athletes Wednesday that he was sorry his government had not protected them from the fallout of a doping scandal. Speaking to athletes set to take part in the Pyeongchang Games, the Kremlin leader also denounced as "strange" the exclusion of many Russian athletes from the upcoming Winter Olympics over doping. The International Olympic Committee banned Russia from the 2018 Olympics after a report on a vast, Moscow-backed doping scheme in previous Games. Only 169 of Russia's athletes have been allowed to take part in the Games under a neutral flag as an "Olympic Athlete from Russia". "For us certain things are truly strange," Putin said in televised remarks.

Source: Daily Nation January 31, 2018 14:03 UTC