Vladimir Putin: Athletes requiring TUEs should not compete against those who don't

Russian president Vladimir Putin says athletes who have been granted Therapeutic Use Exemptions (TUEs) should compete in separate competitions to those who don't.

Hackers, alleged to be from Russia, have recently leaked details of Olympic athletes' TUEs, with several high profile sportsmen and women caught up in the controversy.

Cycling was one of the sports hit the most, with riders such as Sir Bradley Wiggins, Callum Skinner, Laura Trott and Chris Froome seeing details of their medical exemptions released by the group calling themselves the Fancy Bears.

Speaking at a Russian sports forum this week, Putin said: “We need to understand what to do about [TUEs]. Otherwise, we could soon face all records and victories going only to people who are ill with, let’s say, chronic illnesses.

“Maybe they can be put in a special category, or their achievements, points, seconds and honours can be considered in a special way.”

The World Anti-Doping Agency alleges that the people who leaked the files are linked to Russia, believing the move is in response to the ban of Russian athletes from the Rio 2016 Olympic and Paralympic Games following revelations of state-sponsored doping.

There is no suggestion of wrongdoing by any of the athletes named in the leaks, all of whom were granted exemptions to use otherwise banned medication by their relevant governing bodies.