Total of 44 Russian track and field athletes apply to compete as neutrals
By Sky Sports News HQ
Last Updated: 21/02/17 4:34pm
A total of 44 Russian track and field athletes have applied to the IAAF to compete as neutral athletes.
Russian news agency TASS reported on Tuesday an increase in applications to race as neutrals with Russia still banned from all athletics competition.
They have been banned since November 2015 after a World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) Independent Commission carried out an investigation into Russian athletics.
No Russian track and field athletes were present at Rio 2016 with only long jumper Darya Klishina competing as a neutral - she finished ninth.
Athletes will be allowed to compete at the World Athletics Championships in August in London this year as neutrals if they can prove to the IAAF that they have been tested regularly outside of Russia.
"A total of 44 applications were submitted with 33 of them already in processing mode, while 11 more are in the waiting mode," Russian athletics federation chief Dmitry Shlyaktin said.
"There are issues regarding doping abuse histories, low-level results and appearance in the McLaren report. All documents were accepted, there were no additional questions and we are waiting for the final decision (from IAAF)."
