The Kremlin says that the disqualification of a spate of Russian athletes cannot take away the medals won by Russia at the 2014 Winter Olympics.

Norway, Canada and the United States toppled Russia in the medal table this month after the International Olympic Committee (IOC) ruled to strip the host country of 9 medals due to doping.

The IOC is expected to decide next week whether to allow Russia to compete at the 2018 Pyeongchang Olympics in South Korea in February.

