With federation suspended, 19 Russians head to athletics world championships as neutrals
Some Russian athletes will compete in London but are forbidden from wearing their country’s colour on their hair bands or even their nail polish
If Russian hurdler Sergey Shubenkov retains his world title in London next week he will not be serenaded by his national anthem when he stands on the podium.
With their federation still suspended, dozens of Russians have been cleared to compete internationally after demonstrating to the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) that their training environment meets the required anti-doping standards.
Although some semblance of a Russian squad is returning to the international stage after missing last year’s Rio Olympics, Russian athletes in London will be barred from wearing their country’s symbols and colours, down to hairbands and nail polish.
Russian authorities, who have vehemently denied the existence of state-sponsored doping, have generally accepted athletes’ efforts to compete as neutrals.