International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF) on Friday approved Russian doping whistleblower, Yulia Stepanova’s start in international competition, paving the way for an Olympics start in August.
Stepanova could compete at the July 6 to 10 European Championships in Amsterdam as a neutral athlete and would be eligible for the Games in Rio de Janeiro.
“The middle-distance runner is the first athlete to be given exceptional eligibility to compete as a neutral athlete in international competition,’’ the IAAF said.
The IAAF has suspended the Russian athletics federation from the August 5-21 Games in Rio over doping.
However, Russian athletes who have been subject to independently controlled drug testing have been given the opportunity to compete at the Games.
