Russian Akimenko takes surprise silver

Athletics - World Athletics Championships - Doha 2019 - Men's High Jump Final - Khalifa International Stadium, Doha, Qatar - October 4, 2019 Neutral athlete Mikhail Akimenko in action REUTERS/Pawel Kopczynski

DOHA (Reuters) - A few weeks before the world championships, silver medallist high jumper Mikhail Akimenko didn't think he would compete, let alone step onto the podium.

The 23-year-old Russian was cleared to compete internationally as a neutral athlete by the IAAF on Sept. 10, just over two weeks before the start of the championships.