Three Russian athletes allowed to compete internationally under a neutral flag

The International Association of Athletics Federation has approved the applications of three Russian athletes to perform internationally under a neutral flag. They are pole vaulter Angelika Sidorova, runner Kristina Sivkova, and hammer thrower Alexei Sokirsky.

The Federation’s decision emphasized that their “participation as neutral athletes in international competition is still subject to acceptance by the individual athlete and the organizer of the competition in question, in accordance with the rules of that competition.” If all parties agree, all three athletes will be able to compete in either the 34th European Indoor Championships or the 17th European Throwing Cup in March.

Another six unnamed Russian athletes were denied the right to perform under a neutral flag. Other applications are still being assessed.

• A total of five Russian athletes have the right to perform at international competitions under a neutral flag. In addition to Sidorova, Sivkova, and Sokirsky, these athletes are Darya Klishina and Yulia Stepanova.
• Pole vaulter Angelica Sidorova has the most titles of all three atheletes allowed to compete under a neutal flag by the IAAF. She won the European championships in 2014 and 2015, and won gold four times at Russia's indoor championships and twice at Russia's outdoor championships.
• Russia's national athletics team was disqualified from participating in internatinal compettions after the late 2015 publication of a WADA report on doping amongst Russian athletes.