Admin l Wednesday, May 31, 2017
LUSANNE, Switzerland – The International Association of Athletes Federation, (IAAF) Doping Review Board has approved the applications of three Russian athletes that have met the exceptional eligibility criteria to compete in international competition as neutral athletes.
They were approved under competition Rule 22.1A(b) while the Russian national federation (RusAF) remains suspended.
The Doping Review Board, which is composed of Robert Hersh (chair), Sylvia Barlag and Antti Pihlakoski, accepted the applications of the three athletes, Kseniya Aksyonova (400m), Vera Rebrik (javelin) and Vera Rudakova (400m hurdles).
“Their participation as neutral athletes in international competition is still subject to formalities for eligibility under IAAF Rules being completed and subject to acceptance of their entries by individual meeting organisers”, the board said.
A total of 58 cases were reviewed by the Doping Review Board on this occasion. Twenty-eight (28) were declined and a further 27 remain under review.
The 27 includes nine athletes seeking neutral athlete status to compete at the World U18 Championships in Nairobi in July. They will be subject to further testing by the IAAF and/or UKAD between now and Nairobi to determine their eligibility for the championships.
In total this year 13 applications have been approved and 45 have been declined. IAAF President Sebastian Coe commented: “I’m grateful to the members of the Doping Review Board for the dedication and diligence they are giving to this on-going review process. The importance of this huge task should not be underestimated. There can be no time constraints or deadlines when the protection of clean athletes everywhere is at stake.”
The IAAF said it has received more than 130 applications from Russian athletes, more than 40 of which have been endorsed by their national federation RusAF since publication of updated guidelines under Rule 22.1A(b) earlier this year.
“A number of these applications remain under review by the Doping Review Board in accordance with the guidelines while stored samples continue to be re-analysed and the athletes referenced in the Independent Person’s report published last December continue to be assessed in consultation with experts”, the board said.
