The IAAF allowed Ukrainian Pogrebnyak, who changed her citizenship, to compete in Russia

The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) has allowed runner Natalia Pogrebnyak, who changed her Ukrainian citizenship to Russian due to marriage, to compete at national athletics competitions in Russia.

30-year-old Pogrebnyak specializes in sprint running at 100 and 200 meters; this athlete achieved her highest results as part of relay teams. At the 2016 Games in Brazil, the Ukrainian 4x100 meter relay team, which included Pogrebnyak, took the final sixth place. At the 2011 World Championships in South Korea, Pogrebnyak won bronze in the same discipline.

“Natalia got married and received Russian citizenship, and the IAAF, in response to our request, allowed this athlete to compete at domestic competitions,” Alexander Parkin, executive director of the All-Russian Athletics Federation , told TASS . “She also has the right now to apply for neutral status, which is needed to perform at foreign tournaments."

“However, the issue of a full change of sports citizenship and the opportunity to represent Russia at official international competitions can be discussed with the IAAF only when ARAF is restored to its rights,” concluded the agency’s interlocutor.

In January 2017, Pogrebnyak married Russian track and field athlete Dmitry Sorokin, who specializes in the triple jump.

Pogrebnyak set a personal record in the 100-meter race (11.09 seconds) in the summer of 2015 at national competitions in Kirovograd. Kristina Sivkova, who took first place at the 2018 Russian Championships in the 100 meters, showed a result of 11.29 seconds.