Kremlin regrets CAS decision to bar Russian athletes from Olympics

The Kremlin regrets the Court of Arbitration for Sport’s decision to bar 47 Russian athletes from the PyeongChang Olympics and will continue to furnish support for the athletes in safeguarding their rights, Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

"As for the CAS’s decision, we certainly regret it and take it into account. It goes without saying that we will go ahead with support for our athletes in defending their rights," TASS cited Peskov as saying.

According to him, "this is not the right moment for pronouncing some loud statements about reforming [the International Olympic Committee and the World Anti-Doping Agency]."

"It is most important to support our athletes: those who have stayed at home and those who went to South Korea and will be competing there. This is obviously our main task," the spokesperson stressed.

Asked if Russia would arrange for some festive events after its athletes returned from the Olympics, Peskov said it was too early to speculate about that, because the Games were just beginning.