Isinbayeva’s election came despite the three-time world gold medallist being among athletes prevented from competing at the Olympic Games in Rio due to the ban on worldwide competition for Russian athletes imposed by the global Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF).
Advertisement
Canadian former Olympic swimmer Mark Tewksbury tweeted this week that he was “disgusted” that Isinbayeva was being elected to an IOC committee and questioned Bach.
In July, the country lost an appeal to overturn the ban barring its 68 track and field athletes from competing in Rio. Isinbayeva announced her retirement from competition during the conference.
Isinbayeva and 66 other Russian track and field athletes were barred from the Rio Games by the IAAF following a World Anti-Doping Agency investigation detailing state-sponsored doping in Russia.
Isinbayeva, 34, was unable to defend her title after the Russian squad was hit with a blanket ban over a doping scandal which rocked track and field.
The reproduction of the story/photograph in any form will be liable for legal action. But she also said that she was interested in becoming head of the Russian athletics federation.
One of her priorities now is campaigning for Russia’s IAAF suspension to be lifted so fellow clean athletes can resume their professional careers.
“I forgive the President and the [IAAF] Executive Board for the injustice”, she said.
‘Now I will work very hard for the Olympic movement. “When the girls jump today without me, do you think that will be honest?”
Whoever wins, she said, “I will congratulate the new pole vault champion, of course, but I’m sure she will feel it’s not entirely gold because goal number one is to beat Isinbayeva”.
Isinbayeva retires as one of Russia’s best athletes ever.
The news comes a day after the two-time Olympic gold medalist was voted on to the IOC athletes’ commission, despite being suspended from competition due to Russia’s athletics ban.
“I am a bit offended”, she said.
“It’s nonsense to ban everyone because a few have doped”.
Advertisement
The move to appoint Isinbayeva has been welcomed by Alexander Zhukov, the Russian Olympic Committee chief. Let god be their judge. I would like to see more specific proof. She took bronze four years ago in London and will be elsewhere in Rio rather than watching the women’s Olympic pole vault final on Friday night.
