MOSCOW -- Russian President Vladimir Putin attacked the ban on his country from the Rio de Janeiro Paralympics as immoral and inhumane Thursday, while six Russian athletes launched a bid to compete at next months Games as individuals.Russia was suspended Aug. 7 over what International Paralympic Committee president Philip Craven called a medals over morals culture with evidence of state-sponsored doping. The ban was confirmed Tuesday when the Court of Arbitration of Sport rejected a Russian appeal.The decision to disqualify our Paralympians is outside the bounds of law, morality and humanity, Putin said at an award ceremony for Olympic athletes at the Kremlin. He called the ruling against Russia cynical and said it even humiliates those who take such decisions.Foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova added to the criticism, calling the ban collective responsibility for an unproven crime. While Russia has accepted there were some shortcomings in its anti-doping system, it insists drug use was not systemic or supported by the government.The Paralympics start Sept. 7. On Thursday, six Russian athletes, including three gold medalists, wrote to Craven asking for a route into the Games as individuals.I strongly believe that real perpetrators of the dirty system must be punished and banned from sport. I do not want to lose to cheaters and I dont want to compete with cheaters, even Russians, says the letter, which was provided to The Associated Press by Andrei Mitkov, an agent representing the six. However even more strongly I believe that innocent people should not suffer for actions of cheaters that tried to deceive clean athletes of the world.The athletes, who say they have been repeatedly tested outside Russia and found to be clean, asked for the IPC to provide criteria that could allow some Russians to compete if they can show they are clean. The approach is similar to the criteria that allowed U.S.-based Russian long jumper Darya Klishina to compete at the Rio Olympics when the rest of the Russian team was banned.I would be very grateful if you review my individual request for entry to the Paralympic Games in such exceptional circumstances or, alternatively, describe me conditions upon which my participation in Rio Games would be possible, the letter states.In the event of a refusal, the athletes say they may request a ruling from the CAS.On Thursday, Putin said special competitions will be organized in Russia for banned Paralympic athletes, with winners getting the same prizes they would have had from success in Rio. Russia awards cash prizes to Olympic and Paralympic medalists and gave out dozens of BMW luxury cars to its Olympic medalists Thursday.Putin also attacked what he said was political manipulation of sport directed against Russia, whose team was reduced to a single athlete in track and field and banned entirely from weightlifting at the Olympics. That came after World Anti-Doping Agency investigations detailed widespread doping and evidence that senior sports ministry officials allegedly covered up hundreds of doping cases.You came through a tough test with honor, Putin told a room full of Olympic gold medalists. We know how difficult it was for our athletes in Rio. Ahead of the competition, the team was cut by almost a third and was deprived of the chance to show what it can do in sports where Russia is traditionally considered one of the favorites. But our team, you, my friends, coped with all the difficulties, competed as a united team.Russia was fourth in the medal count with 56 medals, 19 of them gold.Earlier, Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko appeared to cast doubt on the achievements of second-place Britain, suggesting it had won medals in Rio thanks to its lobbying power.Look at the comparative growth in results of some countries, such as Britain. I dont want to accuse them of anything, Mutko said in comments reported by the state R-Sport agency. And look at the leadership of all the sports institutions. There are only British and Canadians there.Britain won 67 medals in Rio, with 27 golds, in its best performance in more than a century. Ross Stripling Jersey .In my heart and mind Im competing for India, luge competitor Shiva Keshavan told The Associated Press in an email interview. Every day Im flooded with messages from Indians all over the world telling me they are supporting me. Babe Herman Dodgers Jersey . Spiller left Week 3s 27-20 loss to the New York Jets with a thigh injury, but fully practiced with the team all week and expects to be ready to go on Sunday. http://www.dodgerssale.com/dodgers-rich-hill-jersey/ . Darren Helm scored on Detroits sixth attempt in the shootout and then Jonas Gustavsson stopped Andrew Shaws shot, lifting the Detroit Red Wings to a 5-4 win over the Chicago Blackhawks on Wednesday night. Russell Martin Dodgers Jersey . All of the scoring came in the final 20:04. Lucic scored on a power play at 15:46 of the third period, when he tipped a shot over Stars goalie Kari Lehtonen for a 3-1 lead. A. J. Pollock Jersey . The 43-year-old closer, in his 19th and final big league season, has said hed like to play the outfield. Yankees manager Joe Girardi says hes thinking about allowing Rivera to do it this weekend, when the Yankees finish their season with a three-game series at the Houston Astros. RIO DE JANEIRO -- Even defeat ultimately felt like victory for Yolande Bukasa and Popole Misenga.The two refugees, originally from Congo, competed in judo Wednesday at the Olympics, and they showed that despite losing their country and their families, their spirit remained strong.Bukasa went out in the first round after losing to 11th-seeded Linda Bolder of Israel. Although Bukasa tried to land a strong grip on Bolders uniform, the Israeli quickly took control and threw Bukasa once before holding her down for 20 seconds to score an automatic win.After the match, which took under two minutes, Bukasa said she was joyful simply making it to the Rio Games.Im very happy even having lost, because I had the chance to fight at the Olympics, she said. Someday I think there will be a plaque commemorating the fact that I took part in the 2016 Olympics.Misenga, 24, fared slightly better than Bukasa, winning his first bout against Indias Avtar Singh after landing one throw for a single point.His second-round fight, however, pitted him against the top-ranked judoka in the division, world champion Donghan Gwak of South Korea. With the crowd chanting his name, Misenga fought relentlessly for about four minutes until Gwak scored an ippon victory.Smiling despite his loss, Misenga said it was an honor to face a world champion and that he was proud to have lasted as long as he did -- especially since some of the most lopsided bouts this week were over in seconds.Misenga hasnt seen his family in 15 years after being separated from them at age 9 during the war in Congo. Once in the capital of Kinshasa, he learned judo at a center for displaced children.He soon began competing, but he was treated harshly whenever he lost, with his coach locking him in a cage for days with little to eat or drink. Bukasa was treated the same way by her coach after poor performances.When thhe two came to Rio for the world championships three years ago, they deserted the team hotel and sought asylum in Brazil, eventually gaining refugee status.dddddddddddd Since then, they have been training at a renowned judo school run by Brazilian Olympic bronze medalist Flavio Canto. He is the coach of judoka Rafaela Silva, who on Monday won Brazils first gold of the Rio Games.Claude Marshall, the sports coordinator for the U.N. refugee agency, said they are working to try to reunite Misenga and Bukasa with their families but havent had any luck. He described their performances as overwhelming and was struck by their reluctance to focus on themselves.Even here at the Olympics, they dont like to talk about themselves, Marshall said. They talk about doing this for the 10 million refugee kids out there and about the healing power of sport. He described the athletes losses in the preliminary rounds as no big deal and said that as far as (the U.N.) is concerned, they won.Misenga said he was proud that people around the world are watching refugees compete at the Olympics, and said that while he isnt in contact with his family, hes sure they have seen him on television.Ill send a kiss to them wherever they are, he said, adding that he intends to keep competing and hopes to qualify for the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.Judo is my life, he said. I will one day win a medal.Bukasa also plans to continue her training, and while she mourns having lost touch with her family, said she has found a new one in Brazil.Its not a blood family, but the people cheering for me here in Rio are like a new family, she said. I miss my family a lot, but Im fighting not only in judo, but for my life. I hope my family and the people of Congo will do the same. ' ' '