Pole vault star Isinbayeva slams doping ‘discrimination’ as Russia awaits Olympics verdict
Athletes are preparing for Rio not knowing if they will be allowed to compete or not
Undeterred by uncertainty ahead of the looming decision on Russia’s participation in Rio, pole vault star Yelena Isinbayeva is relentlessly training for what would be her fourth and final Olympics in circumstances she says are “very difficult.”
Next month, Isinbayeva will find out whether she and her teammates will represent their country in Rio when the world athletics governing body IAAF rules whether to lift Russia’s provisional suspension over evidence of state-sponsoring doping in Russian athletics.
“We cannot prepare properly because we don’t know what we are preparing for,” the 33-year-old, who plans to retire after Rio, told reporters in a Skype interview organised by the Russian sports ministry.
The two-time Olympic champion – who is the first woman to clear the 5-metre bar – brandished several doping control forms and deplored that Russia’s absence from international track meets had not provided her with tough competition ahead of Rio.
“Athletes from another country whose doping tests are negative have the right to compete at the Olympics, in the Diamond League,” Isinbayeva said, referring to lucrative international track and field meets.