From Inside the Games
Double Olympic pole vault champion Yelena Isinbayeva has been appointed as the head of the Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA).
It means she will withdraw from the race to become President of Russian Athletics Federation (RusAF), an election she had been widely expected to win.
The vote is due to take place in Moscow on Friday (December 9).
The 34-year-old, a vocal critic of the treatment of Russia since allegations of state-sponsored doping in the country emerged, will head RUSADA’s ruling Supervisory Board.
“I thank my colleagues for their trust,” she said after taking over a role at an organisation which remains non-compliant with the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) code.
“We all understand that the fight against doping is today one of the most important issues on the agenda of world sports.
“The effectiveness of this fight in Russia will depend on how soon RUSADA is reinstated in its rights.
“This is our main task and we will exert maximum efforts to achieve it.”
Isinbayeva was elected as a member of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in Rio de Janeiro in August as one of four new additions to the Athletes’ Commission.
She was banned from competing at the Olympics in the Brazilian city after the International Association of Athletics Federations opted to introduce a blanket ban on the country following the doping allegations.
The pole vaulter described the ruling as a “funeral for athletics” and “a blatant political order” and has since retired from sport.
