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Athletics - 24. October 2016.

IOC provide Stepanovs with consultancy work and training grant following meeting with Bach

insidethegames.com

Whistleblowing couple Yuliya and Vitaly Stepanov have been provided with a range of support measures by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) following a meeting with the organisation's President Thomas Bach, insidethegames can reveal.

As a result of discussions, former Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) employee Vitaly will be providing a consultancy service to the IOC on all aspects of doping control and the protection of clean athletes.

Middle distance runner Yuliya will also be receiving a scholarship to be used for her training.

The husband and wife duo have taken up residence at an unknown location in the United States due to having to flee Russia after they provided evidence of state-sponsored doping in 2014.

Their allegations, made to German television channel ARD, led directly to an International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) investigation, which resulted in Russia being banned in November 2015.

A request has also been made by the IOC to the United States Olympic Committee (USOC) for assistance in contacting universities and training facilities.

IOC President Thomas Bach has met with the Stepanovs since Rio 2016 ©Getty Images
IOC President Thomas Bach has met with the Stepanovs since Rio 2016 ©Getty Images

This all represents the first genuine sign of support by the IOC to the husband and wife duo in what can be interpreted as an attempt to encourage other whistleblowers to come forward.

They had been fiercely criticised in July for their refusal to allow Stepanova - who previously served a two-year doping ban - to compete as an independent athlete at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, despite the IAAF having allowed her to participate internationally.

This was because she had "long implication in a doping system" and supposedly did "not satisfy the ethical requirements for an athlete to enter the Olympic Games".

Stepanov claimed during an August teleconference that the IOC had offered them "no support" and sought to use the situation only to benefit their "own position".

He is now far more positive, however.

"We have had the opportunity to meet the IOC President Bach," he told insidethegames when asked to confirm the support they had received today.

"We are very happy that we are now in a position to further fight doping and bring in our experiences in Russia and as whistleblowers. 

"And we are very thankful that the IOC is giving us this opportunity."

Yuliya Stepanova was permitted to compete at July's European Championships in Amsterdam before the IOC barred her from racing at Rio 2016 ©Getty Images
Yuliya Stepanova was permitted to compete at July's European Championships in Amsterdam before the IOC barred her from racing at Rio 2016 ©Getty Images

When asked if they feel that this support is sufficient given the IOCs previously reluctance to reward or even praise their contribution, Stepanov praised what he now believes is a "genuine wish" from the IOC to offer support.

"We have not been given the impression that the IOC feels that there is anything to make up for," he added.

"The IOC is of the opinion that the decision was the correct one to be made according to their rules. 

"Yuliya received the approval to compete in Rio as a neutral athlete by the IAAF but the IOC did not allow her to compete. 

"We were not happy with the decision and voiced our concern but we respect the decision and would like to move forward. 

"It was never our intention to get Yuliya to compete in Rio at any cost.

"We do not feel that the current support is meant to make up for anything and had the feeling that there is a genuine wish of the IOC to benefit from our knowledge and to support Yuliya in her career as a clean athlete.

"We would like to show to other athletes that it is necessary to fight doping and international sports organisations will support athletes that want to make sports cleaner and fairer."

This support comes as Russia continues its attempts to improve its anti-doping system with an eye to having its IAAF suspension lifted.

Only one Russian athlete - long jumper Darya Klishina - ultimately competed at the Olympics after being the only one to prove she had been operating in an "effective testing system" outside the country.

Russia is still required to improve its anti-doping facilities amid more allegations of state-sponsored drug taking programmes at Sochi 2014 ©Getty Images
Russia is still required to improve its anti-doping facilities amid more allegations of state-sponsored drug taking programmes at Sochi 2014 ©Getty Images

A separate World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)-commissioned investigation has opened this year into alleged doping during the Sochi 2014 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

This probe, spearheaded by Canadian lawyer Richard McLaren, is expected to reveal more evidence within the next month.

While lauded as whistleblowing pioneers in much of the world, the Stepanovs are seen as traitors in Russia for setting this chain of investigations into motion.

The couple were forced to move locations over the summer after both Stepanova's email address and her Anti-Doping Administration & Management System (ADAMS) online whereabouts account were hacked.

"Yuliya is sorry for her past mistakes and regrets doping and not speaking up sooner," Stepanov added to insidethegames.

"She was made to believe that doping is the only way to become international level athlete. 

"But we hope with her actions over the past almost four years she showed that she has changed. 

"We would love to continue helping to fight doping in the future in any possible way and we are glad that the IOC understands our intentions."

insidethegames has contacted the IOC for clarification on what support they provided

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