Russia has been banned from the 2018 Winter Olympics — Putin thinks the US is using the doping investigation to sway their election

Russia has been banned from the 2018 Winter Olympics.

Russia’s Olympic team has been barred from the 2018 Olympics in Pyeongchang, South Korea. Government officials will be forbidden from attending, the flag will not be part of the opening ceremony, and records will show that Russia didn’t win any medals.

Some Russian athletes will be allowed to attend and compete with special exceptions, but they will do so in a neutral uniform, the IOC said.

Last November, Vladimir Putin accused the United States of interfering in Russia’s presidential election using the IOC probe. Putin says the US wants “to create an atmosphere of discontent” by suggesting that the Russian government was allegedly involved in the scandal that found six Russian skiers guilty of doping at the 2014 Olympics in Sochi. Following is a transcript of the video.

Putin says the US may be interfering in Russia’s election. Six Russian skiers were found guilty of doping at the 2014 Olympics in Sochi. The ruling was given by the International Olympic Committee, but Putin says the US has the “controlling stake.”

Vladimir Putin: “I have big suspicions that in response to our alleged interference in their elections, they want to create problems during the election of the president of Russia. Which, if it’s true, is very bad because it undermines the very meaning of the Olympic movement.”

“When are our elections? In March. I have big suspicions that it’s all being done on purpose to create an atmosphere of discontent among sports lovers, sports people by suggesting that the government was allegedly involved in the violations and is responsible for them.”

“We must admit that we do have such cases (of violations) just like in many other countries. We are investigating them, working on them and we will continue to work on them. We are improving our anti-doping system. We have implemented all of the WADA requirements.”

US Intel agencies say Russia interfered in the election to help Trump win. Russia has consistently denied the allegations. Putin has not announced if he will run for another term.