Putin says Russian ban will 'markedly lower' Rio standards

Speaking at an event where he met competitors set for Brazil and those barred over state-run doping, the Russian leader didn’t mince his words in criticizing the ban on some competitiors.

"It's obvious that the absence of Russian competitors - leaders in many disciplines - markedly lowers, and will lower the intensity of the fight and that means the spectacle at the upcoming events," he said in a speech.

"The other sportsmen understand that the quality of their medals will be different."

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) allowed individual federations to make separate decisions on Russia’s participation in each sport, with differing results. But those that excluded Russia have gone "beyond the legal sphere and common sense," according to Putin.

Over 100 Russians have so far been banned from the Games, including pole vaulter Isinbayeva and world champion 110m hurdler Sergey Shubenkov.

A tearful Isinbayeva lashed out at the IAAF suspension and thanked Putin for his support.

"They banned us without evidence, crudely and rudely," she said, before the team headed to a religious ceremony to be blessed by the influential head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill.

Russian competitors are set to depart for Brazil on Thursday but it is currently unclear how many of the 387-strong squad named last week will eventually compete.

Rowing's international governing body FISA are the latest to make a decision, announcing that 22 of 28 Russian competitors had been banned under the IOC’s criteria.

That took the number of Russian competitors banned since Sunday to 41, in addition to 67 members of the track and field team excluded by the IAAF.

Among those banned is Yulia Stepanova, the 800m runner who lifted the lid on systematic doping and corruption in Russian athletics. Tens of thousands have signed an online petition to re-instate Stepanova.

mp (AFP)