Russian athletes to discuss whether to participate in Pyeongchang

The president of the Russian Olympic committee says the country's athletes need time to consider whether they will take part in the Pyeongchang Games.

Alexander Zhukov says ''we plan for it to be discussed'' by Russian sports officials and athletes at a forthcoming meeting before a final decision on participation, but didn't give a date.

Zhukov paints the ruling as a compromise, saying ''there's positive and negative sides,'' and praising the International Olympic Committee decision to use the term ''Olympic Athlete from Russia'' for Russian competitors under a neutral flag.

Previously, suspended countries have used terms such as ''Independent Olympic Athlete,'' which was used last year for Kuwaiti competitors at the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

Zhukov says ''they'll be called Russian athletes and not some kind of neutrals ... that's very important.''

Two-time reigning world champion figure skater Evgenia Medvedeva, who also appeared in front of the IOC board, won't say if she'll compete as a neutral.

Medvedeva says ''it will be discussed more and it's very early to ask questions like that.''