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IAAF rejects 51 Russian athletes’ applications for neutral status

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Moscow, July 5 (IANS) The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) has rejected the applications of 51 Russian athletes since January 2018 to get the neutral status required for performing in international competitions, the All-Russia Athletics Federation (ARAF) spokeswoman Natalya Yukhareva said Thursday.

The ARAF press office reported on Wednesday that the IAAF had denied 15 athletes their admission to international competitions under the neutral status due to the insufficient time of their stay in the testing pool, reports Tass news agency.

They included Artyom Makarenko (combined events), Darya Nidbaikina (triple jump), Anastasiya Bednova (400m), Natalia Shirobokova (discus), Natalia Koloskova (3,000m hurdles), Elena Chernyayeva (100m and 200m), Nina Morozova (100m hurdles and 200m), Irina Ivanova (pole vault), Margarita Sokolova (long jump), Alexander Gripich (pole vault), Dmitry Nikitin (long jump, triple jump), Kirill Chernukhin (100m and 200m), Mikhail Filatov (400m), Natalia Puchkova (race walks) and Pavel Savin (400m).

“According to the updated information, the IAAF has turned down the applications of 51 Russian athletes since the beginning of 2018,” Yukhareva said.

A total of 67 Russian athletes have been cleared to perform in international competitions in the neutral status (all the 2018 competitions or individual 2018 tournaments),” she said.

“For five Russian race walkers, their admission to international competitions in the neutral status has been suspended until the end of a probe into the incident with the presence of coach Viktor Chegin banned for life at a training camp,” the spokeswoman said.

In 1995-2015, Chegin was the chief race walking coach at the Olympic Training Centre in Russia’s Mordovia region.

A number of athletes he had trained were stripped of international medals, including Olympic ones. In 2016, the Russian anti-doping agency RUSADA issued a life ban to Chegin over numerous doping violations committed by his trainees.

Due to the All-Russia Athletics Federation’s currently suspended membership in the International Association of Athletics Federations, the global athletics body made a decision in late 2016 to allow Russian athletes, who meet IAAF’s required criteria, to compete in international sports events under the neutral status.

In 2015, the WADA (World Anti-Doping Agency) Independent Commission carried out an investigation into activities of the ARAF, the Moscow anti-doping laboratory, the Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) and the Russian sports ministry.

The commission accused certain athletes and sports officials of doping abuse and involvement in other activities related to violations of international regulations on performance enhancing substances.

Eventually, the IAAF decided to suspend the ARAF’s membership in the global governing body of athletics and put forward a string of criteria, which the Russian ruling body of track and field sports was obliged to implement to restore its membership in the global federation.

–IANS
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Dr. Abhishek Verma Dedicates a Shelter in Memory of His Mother, Veena Verma, at KGMU; Inaugurated by Daughter Nicolle Verma

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World-renowned business tycoon Dr. Abhishek Verma has supported Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission. In memory of his mother, Late Veena Verma, who was a 3 term Rajya Sabha MP.

Dr. Verma dedicated a state-of-the-art free permanent shelter for the attendants of patients at KGMU Medical University, Lucknow, under the aegis of Vijay Shree Foundation. His daughter, Nicolle Verma, inaugurated the shelter.

During the event, Foodman Vishal Singh honored Nicolle Verma by presenting her with a memento. Mrs. Nidhi Sharma and Avantika Yadav, associated with the organization, welcomed her with garlands. Following this, Nicolle Verma distributed essential items to the attendants and also handed out fruits. She became emotional remembering her grandmother on her birth anniversary.

On this occasion, she also inaugurated the “Veena Verma Sevalaya” in memory of her grandmother, Veena Verma, to serve the attendants. She expressed, “I feel proud that my family is engaged in nation-building as well as social service. Today, in collaboration with Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh Ji, I feel immensely proud to dedicate this shelter for the poor, helpless, and needy attendants of patients battling serious illnesses like cancer. I am honored to be associated with the Hunger-Free World Mission for humanity.”

Inspired by the continuous humanitarian service provided by Vijay Shree Foundation over the past 17 years, Nicolle Verma donated 10 lakh rupees to support the cause. The purpose of this donation is to ensure that services continue for the needy attendants of patients suffering from severe illnesses in hospitals, as facilitated by Foodman Vishal Singh.

It is noteworthy that Dr. Abhishek Verma’s family has a legacy of public and philanthropic service. They are helping millions to carry forward the values and service work of their parents. On the occasion of his mother’s birth anniversary, Dr. Abhishek Verma dedicated this state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College to serve the attendants of patients through the Vijay Shree Foundation.

Supporting Foodman Vishal Singh’s Hunger-Free World mission, Dr. Abhishek Verma assured that he would continually support keeping this flame of humanity alive. He also promised to assist in providing medicines to the helpless patients.

Continuing her grandmother’s legacy of service, Nicolle Verma personally served food to the needy patients and attendants. She said, “It is our good fortune to have received the joy of doing this noble work today through Foodman Vishal Singh. I have taken another step forward in carrying my family’s values and cooperation by joining hands with the Vijay Shree Foundation. My father taught me to serve and help the needy, and I feel happy when I bring a smile to someone’s face.”

On the birth anniversary of the late Veena Verma, the event organizer, Vijay Shree Foundation founder Foodman Vishal Singh, said, “We feel proud and happy that Dr. Abhishek Verma, a globally renowned business tycoon, has extended his support to uplift our country from the hunger index. Today, on his mother’s birth anniversary, he inaugurated a state-of-the-art permanent shelter at Lucknow Medical College, which will always be helpful for the needy attendants of patients. It is a pleasure for me and the organization to receive the affection of Mr. Verma.”

The event was attended by General Manager Verma Family Office Hemant Garg, Sonu Rajput, and the organization’s volunteers, including Sandeep Singh, Parmeshwar Ji, Prashant Rao Gautam, Balram Singh, Ramesh Chaudhary, Suman, Jeetu, Anil, Suraj, Vinay, Manish Bhadauria, Manas Mehrotra, Vivek, Apurv, Happy, and others.

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