MOSCOW (AP) — Russian President Vladimir Putin hit out at "discrimination" against the country's banned track and field athletes at a Kremlin send-off ceremony Wednesday for its depleted Olympic team.
Fencers and triathletes became the latest team of Russians to be cleared to compete in the Olympics by their sports' governing bodies ahead of the Moscow ceremony, but the IAAF rejected a bid by the bulk of the track and field team to be reinstated.
More than 100 Russians from the 387-strong Olympic team have been banned so far from going to Rio de Janeiro.
"We can't accept indiscriminate disqualification of our athletes with an absolutely clean doping history," Putin said.