"We know how difficult it is to achieve victory in sport," he said according to official state news agency RIA Novosti.

"It is twice as difficult when sport is mixed with certain events and phenomena that are unfamiliar.

"Forgive us for not being unable to protect you from this.

"But you and all lovers of sport should have no doubt that Russia has supported and supports the idea of clean sport."

Russia banned from taking part at Pyeongchang 2018 under their own flag and will compete as the Olympic Athletes from Russia - or OAR. 

The President, however, also questioned the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) decision to ban certain athletes from the Olympics.

"For us, some things are strange in this connection," he said.

"You know that many of them were told that their circumstances were not related to doping."

"In that case, what are we fighting with?

"With doping or something else?”

Putin also stressed that Russia will have "substantial conversation" with international sporting organisations about the participation of Russians at the Olympics.

It was recently announced that 169 OAR athletes had been given invitations to compete at Pyeongchang 2018, however, that number has now reduced to 168 after speed skater Olga Graf turned the invitation down in protest.

The Court of Arbitration for Sport are due to announce their verdict tomorrow on the hearings of 39 Russian athletes banned from Pyeongchang 2018.