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IAAF clears Russian whistleblower Yulia Stepanova to compete in Rio

The IAAF will allow Yulia Stepanova to compete independently.
The IAAF will allow Yulia Stepanova to compete independently.

Though Russia’s track and field federation remains barred from international competition, the IAAF will allow doping whistleblower Yulia Stepanova to compete as a neutral athlete.

Stepanova, a top 800m runner, is cleared to race under the European flag at next week’s European Championships. The IOC has yet to announce if it will grant Stepanova a bid at the upcoming Olympic games.

After serving a two-year IAAF doping ban, Stepanova became a whistleblower, and provided evidence of Russia’s systematic doping to the World Anti-Doping Agency. She was subsequently labeled a “Judas” by Russian president Vladimir Putin.

The IAAF said in a release that it deemed Stepanova eligible for competition because of her “truly exceptional contribution to the protection and promotion of clean athletes, fair play and the integrity and authenticity of the sport.”

When the IAAF upheld its ban over the Russian track and field federation last month, it left “a tiny crack in the door” for athletes who live and train outside of Russia to appeal to compete independently. More than 80 Russian athletes have submitted applications for consideration. Those athletes are expected to find out their fate by July 18.