PARIS, Jan. 21 (Xinhua) -- The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) has permitted 42 Russian track and field athletes to compete in international events with neutral status, the organization said on Monday.
"The IAAF Doping Review Board has agreed that the applications of 42 Russian athletes have met the exceptional eligibility criteria to compete in international competition as neutral athletes in 2019 under competition Rule 22.1A(b) while the Russian national federation remains suspended," the IAAF said in a press release.
Russia was banned by the IAAF in November 2015 after allegations of widespread doping were reported.
Among the Russian athletes to have been cleared to compete are two-time women's world high jump champion Maria Lasitskene, former world 110 metre hurdles champion Sergey Shubenkov and European pole vault silver medalist Timur Morgunov.
