Darya Klishina criticised in Russia after decision to compete as 'neutral' in Rio
By James Dale
Last Updated: 11/07/16 12:23pm
Russian long jumper Darya Klishina has received a barrage of criticism following her decision to compete under a neutral flag at the Rio Olympics.
Klishina was granted permission on Sunday to compete as a neutral athlete in the Games this summer after being handed an exemption from the ban on Russia's track and field competitors by the IAAF.
However, the US-based athlete has now been the subject of abuse in her home country, with some labelling the 25-year-old a "traitor".
One social media user published her picture in a leaflet reminiscent of Nazi propaganda that encouraged collaboration in the occupied territories of the Soviet Union.
"Russian athletes, the only thing you have to do in order to compete in the Olympics is to give up the banner of your country," the leaflet said. "Do give up the shameful Russian flag!"
State-owned newspaper Rossiyskaya Gazeta also published an opinion piece criticising Klishina.
"They've allowed only one Russian, the long jumper Darya Klishina, to compete at the Olympics only because she trains in the United States," veteran sports journalist Nikolai Dolgopolov wrote. "How silly is that?"
Klishina is the second Russian athlete to be granted approval to compete at the games after 800m runner Yuliya Stepanova was exempted following her help in uncovering the systematic doping among her country's athletes.
Both athletes will be waiting for IOC approval after the IAAF was satisfied Klishina had been under reliable drug-testing outside Russia.
