the Sky Bet Championship between Middlesbrough and Brighton & Hove Albion Championship - Match BLeg 1: Derby - Match ALeg 1: Barnsl

LONDON -- Russian whistleblower Yulia Stepanova was cleared by the IAAF on Friday to compete as a neutral athlete in the European championships and the Rio de Janeiro Olympics.While her participation in next weeks European meet is assured, it remains uncertain whether the IOC will accept the decision for the Olympics.The IAAF said its doping review board accepted Stepanovas application to compete as an independent athlete under exceptional eligibility rules.The 800-meter runner provided evidence to the World Anti-Doping Agency of widespread cheating in Russia that led the IAAF to bar the countrys track and field athletes from international competition, including the Rio Games.Stepanova, who served a two-year doping ban before turning whistleblower, is living and training in the United States at an undisclosed location.The IAAF said Stepanovas petition to compete was granted because she made a truly exceptional contribution to the protection and promotion of clean athletes, fair play, and the integrity and authenticity of the sport. Stepanova is now eligible to compete in international competitions as an independent neutral athlete.The IAAF added that her participation as a neutral athlete is still subject to acceptance by the organizer of the competition in question, in accordance with the rules of that competition.The IAAF also said more than 80 Russian athletes applied to compete in Rio under exceptional eligibility provisions.The ruling on Stepanova came in time for the European championships in Amsterdam. Meet organizers welcomed her participation, saying she will compete under the European Athletics flag. The 800 heats will be on Wednesday.The decision to accept Stepanovas participation is in accordance with the competition rules of the European Athletics Championships, the European body said, adding it also recognized her exceptional contribution to the anti-doping fight.Stepanovas status for the Olympics remains uncertain, however.The IAAF and the International Olympic Committee have been at odds over how any Russian athletes would be represented if cleared for the games. The IOC says they should compete under the Russian flag, while the IAAF insists they should be under a neutral flag.The IOC said on Friday it had taken note of the IAAF announcement, stressing that Stepanovas eligibility is contingent on acceptance by event organizers.As said before, the IOC will carefully study the case of Ms. Stepanova once the IAAF has passed on the file with all the available information as requested by the IOC, the Olympic body said in a statement. The IOC also took note that the IAAF received more than 80 applications from other Russian athletes seeking `exceptional eligibility in international competitions.The IOC has said that entry of Russian athletes for the games would be under the control of the Russian Olympic Committee, which is not suspended. That means they would use the Russian flag.Stepanova was one of the worlds top 800-meter runners before she and her husband Vitaly Stepanov, a drug-testing official, provided evidence to German broadcaster ARD and WADA that doping was systematic in Russian athletics, with officials helping to cover it up.WADA welcomed Fridays ruling allowing Stepanova to return to competition, saying on its official Twitter feed that we fully support the decision and we now look forward to seeing Ms. Stepanova participating in international competitions as a neutral athlete.Russia was banned from all international competition by the IAAF in November after a WADA report alleged state-sponsored doping in the country.The IAAF upheld the ban last month, saying Russia failed to meet reform conditions. But the IAAF also approved a measure allowing individuals to compete as neutral athletes if they can show they have been regularly tested by a reliable agency. Russias own anti-doping agency was almost entirely shut down last year after it faced cover-up claims.The special eligibility measure is aimed largely at Russians who have been based abroad, and few athletes are likely to be considered, though U.S.-based long jumper Daria Klishina, a two-time European indoor champion, is likely to be one.The deadline to apply is Monday, and a decision on all claims will be made by July 18. The Olympic track and field competition starts on Aug. 12.Dmitry Shlyakhtin, the head of the suspended All-Russia Athletic Federation, said it was absolutely neutral on Stepanovas eligibility, in comments to the Tass news agency. He added the federation supported 68 applications by Russians to the IAAF but maybe someone filed applications themselves.---AP Sports Writers Dennis Passa and James Ellingworth contributed to this report. Nike Free Outlet . 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Negredo broke the deadlock from close range after a simple move in the 99th minute before Dzeko took the ball round goalkeeper Tim Krul to seal the victory in the 105th.With the teams confirmed for the Football League play-offs, who is playing who, when and where? The majority of the Sky Bet Championship contenders were finalised before the last day of the season - Derby, Hull and Sheffield Wednesday all making the cut - but it was a straight shoot-out between Middlesbrough and Brighton to take the final place.It was Boro who came out on top following the 1-1 draw and were automatically promoted alongside Burnley, with the Seagulls set to meet Wednesday on Friday, May 13 at Hillsborough before the return leg at the Amex Stadium on Monday, May 16. The other tie will be between Hull and Derby, with the first leg at the iPro Stadium on Saturday, May 14 before the second clash at the KC Stadium on Tuesday, May 17. Derby will face Steve Bruces Hull in the Championship play-offs. Despite a 5-0 thrashing of Port Vale on the final day of the Sky Bet League One season, Walsall will take their place in the play-offs after Burton gained automatic promotion following a 0-0 draw with Doncaster.The Saddlers will face Barnsley - who themselves beat champions Wigan 4-1 on Sunday - with the first leg at Oakwell on Saturday, May 14 and the Tykes travelling to the Bescot Stadium on Tuesday, May 19.Bradford and Millwall had already confirmed their spots in the play-off chase, with Valley Parade the setting for the first leg on Sunday, May 15 before The Den hosts the return tie on Friday, May 20. Highlights of Barnsleys 4-1 win over Wigan in Sky Bet League One In Sky Bet League Two, Accrington slipped into the final play-off spot after a frustrating 0-0 draw with Stevenage on the final day of the season and a late winner from Bristol Rovers sending them into fourth spot. They will now face AFC Wimbledon in the race for League One, travelling to the Kingsmeadow Stadium on Saturday, May 14 before playing the return leg on home turf on Wednesday, May 18.Portsmouth and Plymouth face off in the second tie, with Fratton Park the venue of the first leg on Thursday, May 12 and the second leg being played at Home Park on Sunday, May 15. Portsmouth will take on Plymouth Argyle for a shot at Wembley All three finals will be held at Wembley over the weekend of 28-30 May.Sky Bet Football League play-off schedule - all games live on Sky Sports:Championship - Match ALeg 1: Sheffield Weddnesday v Brighton - Friday, May 13 (7.dddddddddddd45pm)Leg 2: Brighton v Sheffield Wednesday - Monday, May 16 (7.45pm) Highlights of the clash for promotion in the Sky Bet Championship between Middlesbrough and Brighton & Hove Albion Championship - Match BLeg 1: Derby v Hull - Saturday, May 14 (12.30pm)Leg 2: Hull v Derby - Tuesday, May 17 (7.45pm) League 1 - Match ALeg 1: Barnsley v Walsall - Saturday, May 14 (5.30pm)Leg 2: Walsall v Barnsley - Thursday, May 19 (7.45pm) Phil Parkinsons Bradford will play Millwall as they aim for promotion to the Championship League 1 - Match BLeg 1: Bradford v Millwall - Sunday, May 15 (12.15pm)Leg 2: Millwall v Bradford - Friday, May 20 (7.45pm) League 2 - Match ALeg 1: Portsmouth v Plymouth - Thursday, May 12 (7.45pm)Leg 2: Plymouth v Portsmouth - Sunday, May 15 (6pm) League 2 - Match B Highlights of the Sky Bet Two match between Accrington Stanley and Stevenage Leg 1: AFC Wimbledon v Accrington - Saturday, May 14 (7.30pm)Leg 2: Accrington v AFC Wimbledon - Wednesday, May 18 (7.45pm)Championship play-off finalHull v Sheffield Wednesday - Saturday, May 28 (5pm)League 1 play-off final Barnsley v Millwall - Sunday, May 29 (3pm)League 2 play-off finalAFC Wimbledon v Plymouth - Monday, May 30 (3pm) Also See: Watch Championship goals NOW! L1: Burton up, Blackpool down L2: Bristol Rs last-gasp promotion Weekend ups and downs ' ' '