LONDON -- Russian whistleblower Yulia Stepanova was cleared by the IAAF on Friday to compete as a neutral athlete in the European championships and the Rio de Janeiro Olympics.While her participation in next weeks European meet is assured, it remains uncertain whether the IOC will accept the decision for the Olympics.The IAAF said its doping review board accepted Stepanovas application to compete as an independent athlete under exceptional eligibility rules.The 800-meter runner provided evidence to the World Anti-Doping Agency of widespread cheating in Russia that led the IAAF to bar the countrys track and field athletes from international competition, including the Rio Games.Stepanova, who served a two-year doping ban before turning whistleblower, is living and training in the United States at an undisclosed location.The IAAF said Stepanovas petition to compete was granted because she made a truly exceptional contribution to the protection and promotion of clean athletes, fair play, and the integrity and authenticity of the sport. Stepanova is now eligible to compete in international competitions as an independent neutral athlete.The IAAF added that her participation as a neutral athlete is still subject to acceptance by the organizer of the competition in question, in accordance with the rules of that competition.The IAAF also said more than 80 Russian athletes applied to compete in Rio under exceptional eligibility provisions.The ruling on Stepanova came in time for the European championships in Amsterdam. Meet organizers welcomed her participation, saying she will compete under the European Athletics flag. The 800 heats will be on Wednesday.The decision to accept Stepanovas participation is in accordance with the competition rules of the European Athletics Championships, the European body said, adding it also recognized her exceptional contribution to the anti-doping fight.Stepanovas status for the Olympics remains uncertain, however.The IAAF and the International Olympic Committee have been at odds over how any Russian athletes would be represented if cleared for the games. The IOC says they should compete under the Russian flag, while the IAAF insists they should be under a neutral flag.The IOC said on Friday it had taken note of the IAAF announcement, stressing that Stepanovas eligibility is contingent on acceptance by event organizers.As said before, the IOC will carefully study the case of Ms. Stepanova once the IAAF has passed on the file with all the available information as requested by the IOC, the Olympic body said in a statement. The IOC also took note that the IAAF received more than 80 applications from other Russian athletes seeking `exceptional eligibility in international competitions.The IOC has said that entry of Russian athletes for the games would be under the control of the Russian Olympic Committee, which is not suspended. That means they would use the Russian flag.Stepanova was one of the worlds top 800-meter runners before she and her husband Vitaly Stepanov, a drug-testing official, provided evidence to German broadcaster ARD and WADA that doping was systematic in Russian athletics, with officials helping to cover it up.WADA welcomed Fridays ruling allowing Stepanova to return to competition, saying on its official Twitter feed that we fully support the decision and we now look forward to seeing Ms. Stepanova participating in international competitions as a neutral athlete.Russia was banned from all international competition by the IAAF in November after a WADA report alleged state-sponsored doping in the country.The IAAF upheld the ban last month, saying Russia failed to meet reform conditions. But the IAAF also approved a measure allowing individuals to compete as neutral athletes if they can show they have been regularly tested by a reliable agency. Russias own anti-doping agency was almost entirely shut down last year after it faced cover-up claims.The special eligibility measure is aimed largely at Russians who have been based abroad, and few athletes are likely to be considered, though U.S.-based long jumper Daria Klishina, a two-time European indoor champion, is likely to be one.The deadline to apply is Monday, and a decision on all claims will be made by July 18. The Olympic track and field competition starts on Aug. 12.Dmitry Shlyakhtin, the head of the suspended All-Russia Athletic Federation, said it was absolutely neutral on Stepanovas eligibility, in comments to the Tass news agency. He added the federation supported 68 applications by Russians to the IAAF but maybe someone filed applications themselves.---AP Sports Writers Dennis Passa and James Ellingworth contributed to this report. Authentic Free Run Shoes . However, he did make them miss him a little less. 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QUEBEC CITY -- On Friday night, the Team North America players found a Quebec City restaurant for a team dinner and a viewing of the intense World Cup of Hockey pre-tournament game between USA and Canada.And really for the first time in this training camp, the divide between the Canadians and Americans on the team surfaced. There was good-natured ribbing after goals and, even though they might be facing off against their own countrymen at some point in this tournament, guys were openly cheering for their native teams.I was still rooting for America, said Jack Eichel, who hails from North Chelmsford, Massachusetts. I played for the U.S. enough that I always root for U.S. The only time I wouldnt root for them was if they were playing against our team.Its tough to cheer for a team youre going to play against. At the same time, if youre American or Canadian, its hard not to cheer, said forward Johnny Gaudreau of Carneys Point, New Jersey. I caught myself as the U.S. scored, I was cheering, got up a little bit. Its tough when you see USA and they score, its tough not to get excited. Its a weird situation.While rooting preferences might have been divided at dinner, this team has come together nicely as a group considering the players have no traditional connection other than they all happen to be under 24 years old.The cliques that might have been there on the first day of training camp are gone. The players have made an effort to eat as many meals together as possible when away from the rink. The coaches have done a good job incorporating fun, competitive team-bonding drills at the end of practice to help the cause.On Friday, it was a 3-on-3 drill with two nets pushed close together at center ice; on Saturday, it was a quick shootout competition. Just small things to build up camaraderie on a team that is bonding nicely.ddddddddddddWhen the leadership group was announced before Thursdays game, it was noticed on the outside that the captain (Connor McDavid) and alternates (Aaron Ekblad and Sean Couturier) came up through Hockey Canada and there wasnt any USA Hockey representation joining a Canadian-heavy coaching staff and management group.Head coach Todd McLellan seemed surprised that anyone was keeping track.Never once have we sat down and said that theres a border, McLellan said. Theres nothing political about what were doing as a team.Inside the room? It was a nonissue.It doesnt really matter. As a group, we want to have leaders all around the room, not just guys with letters, said Brandon Saad of Pittsburgh, who certainly could have been part of the leadership group. Whether you have one or not, youre going to play the same way and act the same way.And, as Saad pointed out, the Canadians are outnumbered on the roster.If you count, I think we have more Americans on the team, he said, smiling. (For the record, there are 13 Americans and 10 Canadians.)Defenseman Colton Parayko of St. Albert, Alberta, said the players have done such a good job putting their natural allegiances behind them that hes not even sure he could accurately identify where each of his teammates was born.One week into this thing and the concerns about bonding are gone. You can see it on the ice and feel it in the dressing room while watching the players interact.Theres not a wall built, McLellan said. We belong to the hockey world, Team North America, and theres absolutely nothing to do with the flags of either country. 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