LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) — The IOC has opened the door to the possibility of Russian whistleblower Yulia Stepanova competing as a neutral athlete at the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

The IOC says it is asking its ethics commission for "advice" on the issue and will then decide whether Stepanova's participation "merits an exception to the rules of the Olympic Charter."

Until now, the International Olympic Committee has said Stepanova would have to compete under the Russia flag.

Stepanova, an 800-meter runner who served a two-year doping ban, helped expose the widespread cheating in Russia that led the IAAF to ban the country's track and field athletes from global competition, including theOlympics.

The IAAF granted Stepanova "exceptional eligibility" to compete as a neutral athlete, but not under the Russia flag.