Doping casts shadow over Putin's hopes for sporting prestige

President Vladimir Putin has used sport to boost the prestige of Russia - and his own reputation [Courtesy]

A proposed four-year doping ban on Russian athletes would deal a huge new blow to President Vladimir Putin's efforts to use sport to boost the country's prestige and his own reputation.

But experts say the Russian leader could also turn the ban to his advantage -- by portraying it as a politically motivated attempt by the West to once again humiliate the country at the expense of its athletes.