Lifting the international ban on 22 Russian athletics athletes
The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) announced that world high jump champion Maria Lasitskene tops the list of 22 Russian athletes who have been approved to participate as neutral athletes in international events in 2022. The IAAF said today that 22 athletes have met the eligibility criteria set by the IAAF's Doping Review Board. .
Lasitskene won the world championship three times, and the gold medal at the Tokyo Olympics last year.
Among the names on the list is Angelica Sidorova, the world champion in pole vaulting and a silver medalist at the Olympics.
The Russian Athletics Federation has been suspended since 2015 for doping and its athletes can compete as independents.
In addition, the number of Russian athletes who will participate in six major athletics events this year has been restricted to 20. Events include the World Indoor Championships in Belgrade, the World Championships in Eugene and the European Championships in Munich.
Russia is not allowed to compete as a country in major events - due to the doping sanctions imposed on it - including the Winter Games in Kane next month.
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