Russian duo given all-clear

– World champions Sergey Shubenkov and Maria Kuchina are among seven more Russian athletes cleared to compete as neutrals while the Russian team is banned for doping, the IAAF said yesterday.

It takes the tally of Russians granted permission by athletics’ governing body to compete to 12 and was greeted with cautious optimism in Russia, with highjump star Kuchina saying she was relishing returning to elite-level action. – AFP