Russian long jumper Darya Klishina "is facing a barrage of criticism at home for agreeing to compete under a neutral flag," according to the AP. Because Russian track and field athletes were suspended globally following state-sponsored doping, the U.S.-based Klishina "was given permission by the IAAF over the weekend to compete as a neutral athlete" because she met "exceptional eligibility criteria." But that enraged some Russians, who called her a "traitor," and pointed out she lives and trains abroad.
One social media account "published her picture in a leaflet that was reminiscent of Nazi propaganda that encouraged collaboration in the occupied territories of the Soviet Union." Klishina "dismissed the criticism in a piece published by the All-Russia Athletic Federation, and said she hopes other Russians will be cleared." She said, "It is not like I started training in the United States with an American trainer a month ago. I have been there for three years now." More than 80 Russian athletes "have applied for clearance from the IAAF, and only Klishina and doping whistleblower Yulia Stepanova have had their requests accepted" (AP, 7/11).
