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Rio Olympics 2016: Russian doping whistleblower Yuliya Stepanova allowed to compete as neutral athlete

The 800m runner who lifted lid on doping is first Russian to be granted 'exceptional eligibility' for next month's Games

Yuliya Stepanova

RUSSIA doping whistleblower Yuliya Stepanova has been granted "exceptional eligibility" to compete at the Rio Olympics.

The 800m runner is the first athlete from her country to pass the IAAF's guidelines and will appear there under a neutral flag.

 Yuliya Stepanova will compete under a neutral flat Rio 2016
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Yuliya Stepanova will compete under a neutral flat Rio 2016Credit: Getty Images

The All-Russia Athletic Federation is currently banned from entering athletes to the Games because of "state-sponsored" doping.

A statement from the IAAF read: "The IAAF Doping Review Board has today decided its first case of an athlete seeking exceptional eligibility to compete in International Competition as a neutral athlete under Competition Rule 22.1A.

"The Doping Review Board, which is composed of Robert Hersh (chair), Sylvia Barlag and Antti Pihlakoski, has unanimously accepted the application of Yuliya Stepanova under Competition Rule 22.1A(c) as someone having made a truly exceptional contribution to the protection and promotion of clean athletes, fair play and the integrity and authenticity of the sport.

 Yuliya Stepanova exposed the true scale of doping in Russian athletics
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Yuliya Stepanova exposed the true scale of doping in Russian athleticsCredit: AP:Associated Press
 The 800m runner is the first to be granted 'exceptional eligibility'
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The 800m runner is the first to be granted 'exceptional eligibility'Credit: DPA FILE

";Ms Stepanova is now eligible to compete in International Competitions as an independent neutral athlete. Ms Stepanova’s participation as a neutral athlete in International Competition is still subject to acceptance by the organiser of the competition in question, in accordance with the rules of that competition."

Stepanova, 29, copped a two-year doping ban in 2013 but informed Wada of the culture of doping in her home country.

She and husband secretly recorded meetings between Russian athletes and coaches discussing drugs abuses.

They handed the footage over to Wada, prompting Russia's ban.

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