Putin: Russia’s banned athletes victims of ‘discrimination’

President Vladimir Putin says Russian athletes have been the target of a deliberate campaign of discrimination.

Speaking to the Olympic team ahead of their departure for Rio, Putin said medals won in the absence of Russian athletes would be worth less.

Al Jazeera’s Andrew Simmons reports from Moscow.

[mctrevors]

Sad none here has taken time to watch Yemena's full speech.

[borislavkovacevic]

how can country with clear doping history be treated like this? Well discrimination is an answer for sure... to much politics in sports.

[havalinachiel]

sad for sure, and right - it ´s only sports, but still i feel thankful for seeing british journalists being neutered and just enough to still prove that straight journalism exists and can be done .

[Aorr]

Of Course they discriminate against cheaters.

[kenmorgan]

Yelena isinbayeva, was right its all political, Americans been doing it for years

[Deltams]

Full of drugs but then, so is everybody else.

[Itsallgoodtogo]

Who wouldnt discriminate against cheaters?

[rapator]

Typical Russia, wanna show better himself then they are. Starting economy and military and ending with sports.

[MEGIDIOT]

omg i would kill myself if i was her! i feel so bad if she's actually innocent