On the eve of the European Race Walking Cup, five walkers were denied the status of Neutral Athlete (ANA), condition for participating in the European Cup itself.,
The Russian agency TASS informs that the five athletes are: Klavdiya Afanasyeva, Margarita Nikiforova, Vitaly Anchin, Alexander Garin and Alexei Kudashkin.
We recall that Klavdiya Afanasyeva had previously obtained neutral status and had participated in international competitions, but ANA status was suspended in May last year, when she was seen training in Kyrgyzstan with Viktor Chegin suspended for life by the IAAF.
On that occasion, Sergei Shirobokov, Olga Eliseeva, Julia Lipanova and Sergei Sharipov also lost their neutrality.
Currently, there are only three walkers in Russia with the status of ANA:
- the bronze medal of the European championship in 2018 Vasiliy Mizinov;
| DISCIPLINE | PERFORMANCE | PLACE | DATE |
| 5 Kilometres Race Walk | 19:22 | Simnas (LTU) | 10 JUN 2018 |
| 10,000 Metres Race Walk | 38:58.21 | Cheboksary (RUS) | 25 JUN 2016 |
| 10 Kilometres Race Walk | 39:59 | Kostroma (RUS) | 03 SEP 2016 |
| 20 Kilometres Race Walk | 1:18:32 | Sochi (RUS) | 18 FEB 2019 |
- the 2017 U20 European champion Jana Šmerdová
| DISCIPLINE | PERFORMANCE | PLACE | DATE |
| 5000 Metres Race Walk | 22:26.93 | Cheboksary (RUS) | 12 JUN 2015 |
| 5 Kilometres Race Walk | 22:13 | Sochi (RUS) | 28 FEB 2015 |
| 10,000 Metres Race Walk | 45:20.39 | Cheboksary (RUS) | 25 JUN 2016 |
| 10 Kilometres Race Walk | 45:05 | Sochi (RUS) | 28 FEB 2016 |
| 20 Kilometres Race Walk | 1:31:57 | Sochi (RUS) | 19 FEB 2018 |
- Alexey Shevchuk
| DISCIPLINE | PERFORMANCE | PLACE | DATE |
| 10,000 Metres Race Walk | 41:07.34 | Cheboksary (RUS) | 25 JUN 2016 |
| 10 Kilometres Race Walk | 40:56 | Podolsk (RUS) | 06 MAY 2018 |
| 20 Kilometres Race Walk | 1:20:57 | Sochi (RUS) | 18 FEB 2017 |