Ethics Commission for its guidance regarding the participation of Russian athlete Yuliya Stepanova in the Olympic Games as it involves important ethical implications.
This comes a week after the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) Doping Review Board declared Stepanova was deemed eligible to compete in international track and field competitions as a neutral athlete under IAAF Competition Rule 22.1A (c) for “having made a truly exceptional contribution to the protection and promotion of clean athletes, fair play and the integrity and authenticity of the sport.”
In a letter, the Secretary General of the IAAF notified the IOC that Stepanova is eligible to compete in international competitions as a neutral athlete with immediate effect – including at the forthcoming Olympic Games.
However, according to the IAAF criteria, such a participation is always subject to the rules of the organiser of the applicable international competition and in this case it is therefore subject to the Olympic Charter.
In a letter on 5 July 2016, Stepanova requested from the IOC the right to compete as a neutral athlete at the Games in Rio, having achieved the qualification criteria established by the IAAF.
