Names & Faces: Vladimir Putin, Mike Tyson

Vladimir Putin

In a bizarre switch, the Russian president is accusing the United States of trying to influence Russia’s presidential election in March — by using Russian athletes’ doping scandals to discredit his government. Four more Russian cross-country skiers were found guilty Thursday of doping at the 2014 Sochi Olympics, including three-time silver medalist Maxim Vylegzhanin. “In response to our supposed interference in their elections, they want to cause problems in the Russian presidential election,” Putin said, according to comments reported by Russian news agencies. With calls to ban Russia’s team from next year’s PyeongChang Olympics likely to increase, the IOC’s executive board will meet from Dec.