Russian president Vladimir Putin has announced plans for the nation to host its own competitions for athletes following their ban from the upcoming Paralympics.
The Court of Arbitration for Sport this week upheld the decision to ban Russian Federation from Rio 2016 in the wake of the damning McLaren report released earlier this year, which revealed state-sponsored doping.
Putin is unhappy with the blanket ban, however, and claims that the country will host its own version of the Games for its excluded 267 competitors, with the winners being awarded the same prizes as they would have received in Rio de Janeiro.
"The decision to disqualify our Paralympians is outside law, morality and outside humanity," Putin told reporters at an award ceremony for Russian Olympians at the Kremlin.
"I would like to tell our Paralympians, we will support you and we will organise a special competition where you will be able to show your masterful skills, and the awards for winners will be the same as if you have won in the Paralympic Games."
Russia's track and field athletes were banned from the 2016 Olympics, but they were entered into a short athletics tournament on home soil to coincide with the Games.
