In 2014, Russian runner Yuliya Stepanova and her husband Vitaly Stepanov, a former employee of Russia’s antidoping agency, went public about allegations of a government-sponsored doping program. Stepanova had been pressured to take drugs before the couple ultimately fled Russia for the United States.
Two years later, global track and field officials ruled on Friday that Stepanova should be allowed to compete at the Olympic Games next month in Rio de Janeiro. However, that doesn’t officially allow her to compete. The final say now goes to the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
The announcement comes from the International Association of Athletics Federation (IAAF), track and field’s governing body, just two weeks after it voted to ban Russian track and field athletes from the Rio Olympics. As a result, it’s possible Stepanova could compete as a neutral athlete in the Olympics if the IOC deems she’s eligible.
As for competing on the Russian team, that’s extremely unlikely. Russian sports official have stated they wouldn’t name Stepanova, who runs the 800-meter race, to the team. In June, Russian President Vladimir Putin referred to her as “Judas” for betraying her country.
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The I.A.A.F. left a loophole in its ban on Russian track and field athletes for runners who had recently moved to other countries and possibly wouldn’t compete under the Russian flag. As of Friday, it has received 80 applications from athletes who want to compete in Rio. The I.A.A.F. gave athletes until July 4 to apply for exemption.
Final rulings will be made before July 18 when the list of athletes competing in the Olympics are slated to be finalized.
“Any individual athlete who has made an extraordinary contribution to the fight against doping in sport should also be able to apply,” Rune Andersen, the leader of this particular I.A.A.F task force, said last month. “In particular, Yuliya Stepanova’s case should be considered favorably.”
What could make this tricky is how the IOC handles the next step. The I.A.A.F. has expressed that Russian track and field athletes ruled eligible should compete under the “neutral flag.” On the other side, the IOC has said Russian athletes whose appeals are granted should compete for Russia.
The Rio Olympics begin Aug. 5 and run until Aug. 21.
