Russian athletes who passed doping test can compete in the 2018 Winter Olympics held in Pyeongchang, Gangwon Province, in February after Russian President Vladimir Puttin allowed them to participate as individual players.

Puttin said on Wednesday (local time) that Russian authorities will not stop its athletes competing under a neutral flag at the 2018 Winter Olympics, ending concerns about absence of high-profile players from Russia traditionally strong in winter sports at Pyeongchang event. The country - strong on ice - is home to a powerful hockey team and 18-year-old world champion figure skater Evgenia Medvedeva.

Korean authorities have fretted about losing global audience without Russian presence.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) suspended Russia from the 2018 Winter Olympics for its alleged state-sponsored doping scheme at the 2014 Sochi Olympics, but permitted Russian athlete who passed the doping test to compete neutrally under the Olympic flag and the name “Olympic Athlete from Russia”.

By Cho Hyo-sung and Lee Ha-yeon

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