Russian Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev on Monday blasted the International Olympic Committee’s decision not to invite 15 Russian athletes and staff who had their life bans for doping lifted to the Pyeongchang Games.

“The IOC Commission has taken a shameful decision. This decision is unfair, unlawful, amoral and politically charged,” Medvedev wrote on his Facebook page. “The court has taken a decision in this case. After that, its decision has been overturned by a group of people who have placed themselves above the court, the IOC, the athletes and fans.”

He added: “This decision has little in common with sports. Its goal is to do political damage to Russia. And now politics has defeated the rules of law and decency.”

Earlier on Monday the IOC ruled that 15 Russian athletes and staff who controversially had their life bans for doping lifted last week will not be invited to Pyeongchang.

The decision was taken after a special panel “unanimously recommended that the IOC not extend an invitation to the Olympic Winter Games in Pyeongchang 2018 to the 15 individuals”, a statement said.