President Vladimir Putin has ordered the government to organise a sports competition for Russian athletes banned from the upcoming Winter Games in Pyeongchang over a doping scandal, his spokesman said Wednesday.

Putin “reminded the cabinet of the decision to organise a competition for those of our athletes who had not been allowed to take part in the Olympic Games,” Russian news agencies quoted Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov as saying. He added that winning athletes would receive compensation equal to what Moscow normally awards Olympic medallists.

The International Olympic Committee banned Russia from next month’s event in South Korea after a report on a vast Moscow-backed doping scheme in previous Games. Olympic officials have cleared 169 Russian athletes for competition in Pyeongchang.

They will compete under a neutral flag as “Olympic Athletes from Russia.”

Peskov spoke to reporters after Putin earlier Wednesday met with Russian athletes set to join Pyeongchang Games and said he was sorry “for not having been able to shield” them from the doping scandal. Pro-Kremlin newspaper Izvestiya reported this week that the alternative competition for banned athletes would take place in the Black Sea resort of Sochi which hosted the 2014 Winter Olympic Games. The 23rd Winter Olympics will open in Pyeongchang, South Korea, on February 9, featuring 102 events in 15 sports and athletes from all over the world.

Putin sorry for not ‘shielding’ athletes

President 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.

“Forgive us for not having been able to shield you from this,” Putin said, adding that the scandal had contributed to “very difficult conditions” for athletes.

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. “I wish you luck,” Putin said, adding he wanted them to be “courageous”.

“Hundreds of thousands, millions of fans who love you are watching you,” he added. He reiterated his pledge to support those who could not take part in next month’s Games.

The 23rd Winter Olympics will open in Pyeongchang, South Korea, on February 9, featuring 102 events in 15 sports and athletes from all over the world.

-Inputs from AFP