MOSCOW, Jan 22 International Association of Athletics Federations (World Athletics) approved applications 22 Russians to participate in international competitions as neutral athletes, the press service of the organization reports. Neutral status was given to Dina Alexandrova, Svetlana Aplachkina, Alexander Buyanovsky, Polina Miller, Yaroslav Tkalich (all — running), Vera Chalaya, Timofey Chaly, Ksenia Labygina, Oleg Spiridonov, Artem Makarenko (all — hurdles), Elizaveta Bondarenko, Polina Knoroz, Anzhelika Sidorova (all — pole vault), Alexei Fedorov (triple vault), Ilya Ivanyuk, Maria Kochanova, Maria Lasitskene, Natalya Spiridonova (all — high jump), Alexander Komarov (decathlon, heptathlon), Vasily Mizinov (race walking), Valery Pronkin (hammer), Anna Tropina (hurdling). Previously, World Athletics approved the criteria for applying for neutral status. Applications must be submitted no later than four weeks prior to the entry deadline for the international competition for which eligibility is being claimed. However, the Application Review Panel may require the applicant to undergo additional testing prior to granting the neutral status to the athlete.
