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IAAF Says Klishina Can Compete As Neutral Athlete


Darya Klishina competing in Beijing in August.
Darya Klishina competing in Beijing in August.

The governing body for world athletics says U.S.-based Russian long jumper Daria Klishina can take part in international competition as a neutral athlete.

The announcement in Monaco by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) on July 10 clears the way for Klishina to possibly compete at the Rio de Janeiro Olympics.

The Olympic track and field competition starts on August 12.

However, the IAAF said Klishina's participation is still subject to acceptance by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).

Russia's athletics federation and sports minister condemned the IAAF board's ruling immediately after it was announced on July 10.

They said it was also a rejection of the claims by 67 other Russian athletes.

The IAAF statement, however, said only that most of the other applications "have now been reviewed."

Russia was banned from all international competition by the IAAF in November after a World Anti-Doping Agency report alleged state-sponsored doping in the country.

The IAAF has said more than 80 Russian athletes have applied to compete in Rio under "exceptional eligibility" provisions granting an exemption from the doping suspension of the entire Russian team.

The IAAF has already approved an application from Russian athlete and doping whistleblower Yulia Stepanova, who competed at last week's European championships.

Stepanova, an 800-meter runner who served a two-year doping ban, helped expose the widespread cheating in Russia that led the IAAF to ban the country's track and field athletes from global competition, including the Olympics.

Stepanova is living and training in the United States at an undisclosed location.

Based on reporting by AP and Reuters

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