Russian athletes' appeals rejected by the IAAF
Wednesday 31 May 2017 10:51, UK
Twenty-eight Russian athletes have had their application to compete as a neutral rejected by the IAAF, the world governing body for athletics.
The Russian National Athletics Federation remains suspended from international competition by the IAAF following allegations of widespread systematic doping.
As a result, the majority of Russia's athletes are set to miss the upcoming World Championships, which will be staged in London in August.
Three athletes, however, have had their application to compete as a neutral approved by the IAAF - joining 12 others who have been previously cleared by the governing body's Doping Review Board.
The IAAF said that 400m runner Kseniya Aksyonova, javelin thrower Vera Rebrik and 400 metres hurdler Vera Rudakova had met the "exceptional eligibility criteria" required to compete as neutrals. A further 27 applications are still being considered.
"I'm grateful to the members of the Doping Review Board for the dedication and diligence they are giving to this on-going review process," said IAAF president Sebastian Coe.
"The importance of this huge task should not be underestimated. There can be no time constraints or deadlines when the protection of clean athletes everywhere is at stake."
