Only two track and field athletes are thought to have met the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) criteria for competing at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, a leading Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) official has admitted.
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Stepanova is due to return to competition next week at the European championships, racing in the 800 metres as a so-called “neutral athlete” not representing a particular country.
Russia’s Olympic Committee (ROC) says that 14 of its athletes in Beijing – including Chicherova and nine other medallists – tested positive in retroactive tests on samples given during those Games. She worked with the Rome 2004 and Turin 2006 Olympic bids and also managed PR & media for Dr. Jacques Rogge during his campaign for the presidency.
European Athletics said it recognised Stepanova’s “exceptional contribution to the protection and promotion of clean athletes” and cleared her to compete in Amsterdam next week. The ban was upheld by the IAAF in a vote last month. The IOC wants them to use the Russian flag, while the IAAF is opposed. “We believe the deadline for team submissions should fit with this timeline”, the IAAF said in an emailed statement.
Stepanova and her husband Vitaly came forth and made public incriminating information as to the inside workings of Russian athletics and state complicit cover ups.
The IAAF is reviewing the rest of the applications for eligibility from dozens of athletes.
Russian Federation was banned from all worldwide competition by the IAAF in November after a WADA commission report alleged state-sponsored doping in the country. The measure is aimed largely at Russians who have been based overseas and few are likely to be eligible.
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The governing body are allowing individuals to compete as neutral athletes if they can show they have been regularly tested by a reliable agency.
