Russian athletes want to compete as neutrals at Olympics
Most Russian athletes want to go to next year's Winter Olympic Games even though they would have to compete as neutrals, an official of the country's Olympic committee said on Monday.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) last week banned Russia from the Games due to take place in Pyeongchang, South Korea in February, citing evidence of an 'unprecedented systematic manipulation' of the anti-doping system.
But it left the door open for clean athletes to compete as neutrals.
Russian athletes want to compete as neutrals at the Pyeongchang Winter Olympic Games
Olympic fencer Sofya Velikaya, who chairs the Russian Olympic Committee's (ROC) athletes' commission, told reporters: 'A majority of athletes want to take part in the Olympics.
'The Russian Olympic Committee supports the opinion of the athletes who will decide to participate and also respects the decision of those who decide not to go.'
Velikaya said no athlete questioned by the ROC had voiced plans to boycott the Games.
She added: 'Everyone is preparing and hoping to compete.'
President Vladimir Putin said last week that Russia would not prevent its athletes from competing, damping down calls from some for a boycott.
Russian Olympic official Sofya Velikaya said a majority of Russian athletes want to take part
President Vladimir Putin said that Russia would not prevent its athletes from competing
He also reiterated Russia's insistence that there was no state-sponsored doping system in the country.
Russian Olympic authorities are expected to spell out their response to the IOC ban following a meeting on Tuesday.
In the weeks ahead of the IOC ban, more than 20 Russian athletes who competed at the 2014 Sochi Games were banned for life from the Olympics for allegedly violating anti-doping rules.
Russia's athletics federation, Paralympic Committee and anti-doping agency RUSADA remain suspended over doping scandals.