The campaign against Russian athletes strikes a blow on the Olympic movement and is a crime against sports, Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Thursday, TASS reports.
"What is now happening in sports is a blow not only on us but also on global sports," Zakharova said. "This is a blow on the logics of truce, temporary smoothing of contradictions and demonstration of the fact that despite all these contradictions we have spheres where we can fight honestly and equally, showing our possibilities."
"What is being done, in particular, in Washington, is a crime," Zakharova continued. "What the architects of this campaign are doing is a new type of crime which can be called a crime against sports."
"The consequences should be calculated. I am addressing those behind this campaign. You are now striking a major blow on the Olympic movement and sports," she added.
