IAAF clears 5 Russian athletes for international competition

LAUSANNE, Switzerland – The IAAF Doping Review Board has cleared five Russian athletes to take part in international competition as neutral athletes in 2019 under competition Rule 22.1A(b) while the Russian national federation (RusAF) remains suspended.

“The application process for athletes seeking neutral status in international competitions in 2019 opened in December 2018. A total of 68 Russian athletes have so far been declared eligible to compete as Authorised Neutral Athletes in 2019. Fifteen applications have so far been rejected in 2019”, the IAAF said.

The athletes are Elizaveta Kamenets (heptathlon), Alexander Komarov (decathlon), Rail Kutuev (long jump), Liliia Mendaeva (1500/3000m), European U20 Championships only and Aleksey Shevchuk (race walk).

They were cleared by the Doping Review Board, which is composed of Robert Hersh (chair), Sylvia Barlag and Antti Pihlakoski.

The participation of all these athletes 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 IAAF said this remains an ongoing process and that it will only make announcements as and when decisions are made by the Doping Review Board concerning successful applications and those athletes have been informed.