Sports
IAAF Approves Application Of 16 Russian Athletes
The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) Doping Review Board has approved the applications of 16 Russian athletes to compete in international competitions as neutral athletes under Competition Rule 22.1A(b).
A statement on the federation’s website on Sunday showed that this stands as the Russian national federation (RusAF) remains suspended.
Tidesports source gathered that the Doping Review Board is composed of Robert Hersh as chairman, with Sylvia Barlag and Antti Pihlakoski as the other members.
The athletes include Viktor Butenko (discus), Timofey Chalyy (400m hurdles), Danil Danilov (hammer), Olga Eliseeva (race walks – European U20 Championships only), Alexey Fedorov (triple jump) and Irina Gemeniuk (triple jump).
Also on the list of the 16 athletes are Irina Gordeeva (high jump), Viacheslav Kolesnichenko (sprints), Alexsandr Lesnoi (shot put), Konstantin Lyadusov (shot put), Iuliia Maltseva (discus) and Alena Mamina (sprints).
The rest are Alexsandr Menkov (long jump), Viktoriia Prokopenko (triple jump), Ilya Shkurenev (decathlon) and Valentin Smirnov (middle distance)
The statement added that the Doping Review Board has extended neutral athlete status for three athletes who have been previously approved to be able to compete at the European U20 Championships.
These athletes are Aksana Gataullina (pole vault), Polina Miller (sprints) and Yana Smerdova (race walks).
The statement however noted that the participation of all these athletes as neutral athletes in international competitions was still subject to formalities for eligibility under IAAF Rules being completed.
Participation is also subject to acceptance of their entries by individual meeting organisers.
Tidesports source also gathered that in total this year, 39 applications have been approved, of which nine are for the forthcoming IAAF World U-18 Championships.
IAAF President Sebastian Coe said it was important to reiterate that the review process was about ensuring there was a level-playing field in which the world’s clean athletes have confidence.
“I want to thank once again the members of the Doping Review Board for their continued dedication and diligence in assessing these applications to compete internationally as independent neutral athletes.
“It is a huge task and one which cannot be rushed if we are to ensure the rights and aspirations of clean athletes are protected.”
It was disclosed that since publication of updated guidelines under Rule 22.1A (b) earlier this year, the IAAF has received over 150 applications from Russian athletes.
More than 50 of these have been endorsed by their national federation, the RusAF.
A number of these applications remain under review by the Doping Review Board in accordance with the guidelines.
This is ongoing as stored samples continue to be re-analysed and the athletes referenced in the Independent Person’s report published last December continue to be assessed in consultation with experts.
“This being an ongoing process, the IAAF will only make announcements as and when decisions are made by the Doping Review Board concerning successful applications and those athletes have been duly informed,” the athletics sport governing body said.
The Kenya Football Federation (FKF) has launched an investigation into allegations that goalkeeper Patrick Matasi has been involved in match manipulation.
The 37-year-old, who plays for Kenyan Premier League club Kakamega Homeboyz, has won over 30 international caps.
His most recent appearance for the Harambee Stars came in October last year, in a qualifier for the 2025 Africa Cup of Nations.
An undated video posted online appears to show Matasi agreeing a deal to influence the outcome of a league game.
“I have spoken to him. He was also shocked at what he was seeing in the video and he told me he doesn’t know about match-fixing,” Homeboyz owner Cleophas Shimanyula told Tidesports source .
The FKF said it would work with world governing body Fifa, the Confederation of African Football and other “relevant authorities” during its investigation.
“We reaffirm our zero-tolerance policy on match manipulation and are committed to safeguarding the credibility of our competitions,” a statement added.
“This investigation will adhere to FKF’s anti-match manipulation regulations and Fifa guidelines, ensuring a fair, transparent, and thorough process.
“The rights of the player and his club will be respected, and appropriate action will be taken based on the findings.”
Shimanyula backed Matasi, pointing to the fact the veteran has kept three clean sheets in as many games since joining the club a month ago.
“When we watched this video, we found that Matasi has not wronged the club,” he said.
“In a video there can misinterpretations and false narratives and we cannot trust everything.
“He will keep playing for us because there’s no wrongdoing on his part as far as we are concerned – unless there’s evidence or the FKF writes to us to say they are suspecting the player of some wrongdoing.
“He is innocent until proven guilty and then we will act.”
The FKF has called on anyone with credible information to assist its investigation, with any reports to be handled with strict confidentiality.
Shimanyula also challenged the Kenyan footballing community to provide evidence against Matasi.
“Kakamega Homeboyz is against any form of match manipulation,” he said.
Uefa has opened an investigation into allegations of indecent conduct by four Real Madrid players during their Champions League last-16 win against Atletico Madrid.
Antonio Rudiger, Kylian Mbappe, Vinicius Jr and Dani Ceballos allegedly made gestures towards the home fans after Real Madrid beat their city rivals on penalties to book their place in the quarter-finals.
TV pictures showed German defender Rudiger appearing to make a throat-slitting motion, apparently towards the crowd after the shootout victory, while Mbappe was shown seemingly making a crotch-grabbing gesture.
Spanish media said Atletico reported the actions to Uefa last week.
The players could be at risk of suspension but there is no guarantee the case will be heard before their quarter-final with Arsenal. The first leg for that tie is at Emirates Stadium on 8 April and the return leg a week later.
In a statement, Uefa said: “[An] ethics and disciplinary inspector has been appointed to investigate allegations of indecent conduct” made by the four Real Madrid players.
“Further information regarding this matter will be made available in due course.”
The Premier League has announced it will have two transfer windows this summer to allow Manchester City and Chelsea to sign players before the Club World Cup.
The window will open between Sunday, 1 June and Tuesday, 10 June, then close for five days before running again from Monday, 16 June until Monday, 1 September.
This summer features the first expanded Fifa Club World Cup, which involves 32 teams and adopts the format of the regular World Cup of the past few years.
Chelsea and Manchester City are the Premier League teams in the tournament which takes place in the United States from Sunday, 15 June.
But the Premier League can only have 12 weeks of a summer window – hence the five-day break in order to run it until 1 September.
Fifa has allowed new players to be registered for the Club World Cup from 1-10 June, and again from 27 June-3 July for the knockout stage.
This is happening firstly, to bring order to the global registration system, world governing body Fifa only permits the transfer window in any individual country to be open for 16 weeks in any calendar year.
In Europe, precedent dictates four of those weeks are for the winter window, leaving 12 in the summer. In 2024, the Premier League transfer window opened on 14 June and closed on 30 August.