And you, Mark Tewksbury, with your since-deleted tweet expressing disgust that the two-time Olympic women’s pole vault champion was elected to the IOC Athletes’ Commission while banned from competing in Rio.
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Isinbayeva was one of 67 Russian track and field athletes who were barred from the Rio Games, although she has never failed a drug test.
“Today in Rio on August 19, 2016, Yelena Isinbayeva is finishing her professional career, this is my statement”, she said.
The 2004 and 2008 Olympic gold medallist was elected to the IOC Athletes Commission alongside with Germany’s fencing champion Britta Heidemann, South Korean paddler Ryu Seung-min and Daniel Gyurta from Hungary of swimming for a term of eight years on Thursday. “I’d like them to use their experience, not to foster some war but to develop sport around the world”.
“I’d like to call upon all athletes present here at Olympic Games and those in their own countries: please, do not let yourselves be used for any political ends”, Isinbayeva said. We will talk about my future role.
‘It is very important for me because I was preparing for this Olympics for a long time and unfortunately I was not able to participate, ‘ she said. “It is very interesting for me, I think I could make ARAF a member of the IAAF [International Association of Athletics Federations] again”, she told reporters.
Yelena Isinbayeva couldn’t compete at Rio Olympics as the track and field team of Russian Federation was banned by IAAF. Isinbayeva has been elected as an athletes’ representative on the IOC.
Isinbayeva remains aggrieved about the IAAF’s treatment of Russian Federation.
“Of course I am upset, that I am not here as a competitor, but I need to be here”, TASS news agency quoted her as telling journalists when she arrived in Rion for the election.
In that role, she will be an influential and outspoken player at a time of crisis in relations between Russian Federation and the wider Olympic movement.
“I am a bit offended”, she said. “I am so grateful that Mr Bach took a fearless decision and let the Russian delegation perform here”, Isinbayev said.
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“I said when I arrived [in Brazil] I will never forgive anyone for banning me from the Games in such an unjust way”, Isinbayeva added. Let god be their judge. “I would like to see more facts, more specific proof against specific athletes”.
