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LONDON -- Russian whistleblower Yulia Stepanova was cleared by track and fields world governing body 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 now living and training in the United States at an undisclosed location.The IAAF said Stepanovas petition to compete was granted because she had made a truly exceptional contribution to the protection and promotion of clean athletes, fair play and the integrity and authenticity of the sport.Ms. Stepanova is now eligible to compete in international competitions as an independent neutral athlete, the federation said.The IAAF added that Stepanovas 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 Friday that more than 80 Russian athletes have applied to compete in Rio under exceptional eligibility provisions.The ruling on Stepanova came in time to allow her to compete in next weeks European championships in Amsterdam. Meet organizers welcomed her participation, saying she will be able to compete under the European Athletics flag. The 800-meter heats will be held 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 Russian athletes would be represented if any are cleared to participate in the Games. The IOC says any such athletes should compete under the Russian flag, while the IAAF insists they should be under a neutral flag.The IOC said Friday it had taken note of the IAAF announcement, stressing that Stepanovas eligibility is contingent on her being accepted 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 Russian athletes entry into 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.Russia was banned from all international competition by the IAAF in November after a WADA commission report alleged state-sponsored doping in the country.The IAAF upheld the ban last month, saying Russia had 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 claims of a cover-up.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 Darya Klishina, a two-time European indoor champion, is likely to be one of them.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 Russian track federation, said in comments to the Tass news agency that his organization was absolutely neutral on Stepanovas eligibility. He added the federation supported 68 applications by Russians to the IAAF but maybe someone filed applications themselves. 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CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- Tracy Abrams proved that he was back to top shape -- or even better -- when he scored a career-high 31 points and led Illinois in a 92-73 drubbing of Central Michigan on Saturday afternoon.Abrams scored 23 points in the first half and finished 7 of 8 from 3-point range on a day when he scored his 1,000th career point with Illinois (8-3).Its been a long road for the guard from Chicago who missed the last two seasons with knee injuries. Despite the difficult journey, Abrams had a priority for whom to credit for his on-court success.My teammates for giving me the ball and just the hard work, being in the gym a lot. Abrams said. It just shows that hard work pays off.Illinois shot at or above 50 percent from the field in the first 10 minutes, but a six-minute Central Michigan scoring drought allowed Illinois to go on a 23-3 run and lead by as many as 19 points in the first half.Leron Black played another compete game from the bench, scoring a career-high 21 points.Illinois played its last nonconference game at home of the season, a game in which coach John Groce thought his team continued to grow and find its identity.It was our most complete performance of the season, Groce said. I think its something that we can build upon.Marcus Keene led Central Michigan (8-3) with 25 points and Braylon Rayson added 18.Illinois won the rebound battle 49-25 and outscored the Chippewas in the paint 34-14.We had greaat attitude, great effort and just got beat by an ever-improving Illinois team, Central Michigan coach Keno Davis said.dddddddddddd They were able to expose the weakness of being not as physical, big and strong as they are.BIG PICTUREIllinois: The Fighting Illini continue to win during a critical stretch of the season. Two more nonconference wins against BYU and Missouri will help the Illinis tournament resume before the start of Big Ten play.Central Michigan: The Chippewas lost arguably their hardest game of the season. Central Michigan will have a nice break before playing the last two nonconference games of the season.STAR WATCHMalcolm Hill was held scoreless in the first half but finished with 10 points and five rebounds.STAT OF THE NIGHTIllinois held Central Michigan to its lowest first-half points total of the season at 36.ROLE PLAYERD.J. Williams continued to gain more playing time after sitting out two of the previous four games. The sophomore finished with two points and five rebounds in 18 minutes.UP NEXTIllinois will have the week of before the team travels to Chicago to play BYU in the State Farm Chicago Legends game.Central Michigan has an extended break before returning back to action at Montana State on Dec. 21.---More AP college basketball: http://collegebasketball.ap.org ' ' '