Five more Russians have been approved to compete as neutrals in international athletics events, bringing their overall number to 72, the ruling body IAAF said Friday.
The IAAF said its doping review body has cleared to compete Rinas Akhmadeyev (10000m/half marathon), Artyom Alekseyev (marathon), Artyom Denmukhametov (400m), Denis Lukyanov (hammer throw) and Yelizaveta Tsareva (hammer throw).
None of the five have achieved significant results at internatonal level.
Russia's athletics federation was suspended in November 2015 over accusations of wide-ranging doping practices.
The team was banned from the 2016 Rio Olympics with only United States-based long-jumper Darya Klishina allowed to compete there.
Now more than 70 Russians, led by high-jump world champion Mariya Lasitskene, can compete as neutrals in 2018 after being declared eligible by the IAAF, mainly by proving that they are undergoing frequent, independent doping tests.
The IAAF also said Wednesday it had denied 68 other applicants and revoked the neutral athlete status of five Russians.
