Russia’s pole vaulter Elena Isinbayeva retires

A bubbly, happy Elena Isinbayeva, a picture of her pre-Russian-doping self, announced to media on Friday that she was putting an end to a pole vault career that saw her win two Olympic golds.

The 34-year-old Russian was one of the 68 Russian track athletes to be banned by the IAAF from competing at the 2016 Rio Olympic Games following the McLaren Report.

Read also: ‘I am the greatest’ Bolt says after winning third gold

Isinbayeva, who had been the most vocal in the Russian outcry following the decision, was elected by her peers as a member of the IOC Athlete’s Commission on Thursday, along with three other members.

Isinbayeva confirmed that she was considering the position of president of the Russian Athletics Federation in her quest to protect clean Russian athletes and open the way back to international competition.

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