Russia’s Darya Klishina wins appeal, can compete at Olympics

A week ago, the International Association of Athletic Federations attempted to ban Klishina “based on new information”, the CAS says that Klishina complied with the rules, and will be allowed to perform in Rio.

Last month, IAAF’s anti-doping department rejected personal applications from all Russian track and field athletes to participate in global competitions, including the Olympic Games in Rio, except for long jumper, Klishina.

The only Russian due to compete in the athletics at Rio 2016 has been cleared to contest the women’s long jump after successfully appealing against a ban.

The IAAF on Monday issued a short statement accepting the ruling.

“However, the CAS released a statement, again via CNN, that “[Klishina] established that she was subject to fully compliant drug-testing in and out of competition outside of Russian Federation”. Klishina challenged her decision and CAS and was finally cleared for the competitions in Rio.

Russian Federation escaped a blanket ban despite the grave allegations, but its athletes had to meet strict criteria to compete in Brazil, with some 280 of them now at the Games. “The outcome we reached to revoke Darya Klishina’s exceptional eligibility was not upheld by CAS despite the information received from McLaren and she is therefore eligible to compete in Rio”, read the statement.

But the International Olympic Committee said Russian athletes “will be accepted by the IOC” to compete in Rio if they can meet strict anti-doping criteria, have no doping history and are given the green light by their own sports governing body.

The 25-year-old Russian long jumper and professional model is a permanent resident of the United States.

“Now we need to settle down and wish Dasha (Klishina) good luck”, sports minister Vitaly Mutko said on Interfax agency. “It’s beyond the realm of common sense”, AP quotes the Russian official as saying.

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