Two Russian figure skaters barred from S. Korea Olympics

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MOSCOW, Jan 23 (Reuters) - Russian figure skaters Ksenia Stolbova and Ivan Bukin will not be allowed to take part in next month's Olympic Games, the Russian Figure Skating Federation said on Tuesday, citing a directive from the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

"The unfounded and absurd decision once again demonstrates the IOC's inability to eschew external influences on its decision-making," the Federation said. (Writing by Polina Ivanova; Editing by Andrew Osborn)