Vladimir Putin criticises Olympic ban against Russian track and field athletes as 'discrimination'

Putin was addressing members of Russia's Olympic team in the Kremlin

Vladimir Putin

Vladimir Putin has criticised the Olympic ban on Russian track and field athletes as “discrimination” and believes it represents a “political campaign” against Russian sportspeople.

The Russian president has also claimed that any athletics medal won in Rio in the absence of Russian athletes would be worth much less than otherwise.

Putin, who was addressing members of Russia's Olympic team in the Kremlin, said that the absence of some Russian sportspeople from the games would damage international sport as well as the Olympics.

According to Putin, the decision to bar certain Russian competitors from Rio "does not only go beyond the legal sphere, it goes beyond common sense".

As a whole, the games will be "less of a spectacle", Putin claimed.

Russia's full Olympic team would have consisted of 387 competitors but looks set to be drastically trimmed down following the International Olympic Committee's Sunday decision.

As opposed to implementing a blanket-ban against Russia, the IOC has decided to delegate responsibility to the individual sporting federations who are now in the process of deciding which Russian competitors can participate in the games.

All 68 of Russia’s track and field athletes have been banned - though long jumper Darya Klishina has been cleared to compete as a "neutral".

Yuliya Stepanova, the 800m runner whose evidence helped expose the Russian doping scandal, will not be allowed to do the same, however.

The IAAF had previously cleared her to compete, but the IOC's latest ruling disallows any athlete with a previous doping ban.

Russia's fencing, volleyball and triathlon teams have been cleared to compete at Rio 2016, which begins on 5 August.

In total, there have been 108 Russians banned from competing, with more expected to follow.