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6 Aug, 2016 13:15

Isinbayeva pleads for answers from Coe in last ditch Olympic bid

Isinbayeva pleads for answers from Coe in last ditch Olympic bid

Russian pole vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva has blasted the International Association of Athletics Federations’ (IAAF) president Sebastian Coe over the decision to ban her from the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio.

The two-time Olympic champion posted an emotional message on her official Instagram page, saying the only reason she cannot compete in Rio is because she has lived and trained in Russia for the last two years.

То же самое на английском. Dear friends, today it has finally become completely clear for me why IAAF doesn't give me an admission to Rio. You will laugh but it wouldn't be so funny if it wasn't so sad. WADA and IOC don't have any claims for me. IAAF also doesn't have any claims for me concerning doping, I am completely clear and honest and all my career proves this, the only problem due to which I am not allowed to participate in Rio is the fact that for the last 2 years I have been living and training in Russia. Oh my God, it is ridiculous. So athletes from other countries easily train and live in their home places but I had had to leave my country, go away from my family and my coach and then I would have had an opportunity to perform at the Olympic Games in Rio now. McLaren has said today that they don't have any claims for individual sportsmen, all their accusations concern the Federation and its heads, then what does it have to do with me. IAAF doesn't have any claims for Daria Klishina, neither does it for me but Daria will perform in Rio because for 3 years she has lived and trained in the United States, and I won't because I train in Russia. There has not been any answer to the direct question to IAAF president Coe- why and for what reason Isinbaeva is disqualified from participation in Rio. He just leaves ignoring the question. There is still no clarity, no answers, I still don't give up trainings hoping that this injustice is to end very soon. Friends, I thank you for your support and petitions; dear mass media, thank you but I ask you one more time, probably for the last time to help me get to the truth and find out from Coe the reason for my disqualification, exactly my disqualification. And let him not say that I am part of the Russian Athletics Federation and have to be responsible for other athletes' mistakes because Daria is also part of it but she only lives in a different country and doesn't carry any responsibility for other sportsmen! I do not want to give up and simply to accept such an unfair and vile IAAF decision concerning myself! If there is at least one chance to perform in Rio, I want to use it. THANK YOU VERY MUCH FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

Фото опубликовано Yelena (@isinbaevayelena)

She reiterated her point that she is a clean athlete and compared her situation to that of Darya Klishina.

The Russian long jumper has been cleared to take part in Rio as Klishina has lived and trained in the US for the past three years – a decision Isinbayeva says, has not been explained by the IAAF boss.

"There have not been any answers from a direct question put to IAAF president Coe – ‘why and for what reason Isinbayeva has been banned from competing in Rio,’" Isinbayeva wrote on her Instagram feed.

"He just keeps on ignoring the question. There is still no clarity, no answers, I have still not given up training and I am hoping that this injustice will end very soon.

"Friends, I thank you for your support and petitions. The mass media – thank you but I ask you one more time, probably for the last time to help me get to the truth and find out from Coe the reason for my disqualification.

"Let him say that this is not because I am part of the Russian athletics federation and that I am responsible for the mistakes of other athletes. Darya is also part of it, but she lives in a different country and does not have any responsibility for the other sportsmen!

"I do not want to give up and to simply accept such an unfair and vile IAAF decision concerning myself! If there is the slightest possibility of being able to compete in Rio, I want to take it.”

Isinbayeva, who had previously said she would consider quitting athletics if she was banned from Rio, is now thinking about putting her name forward for the post of the president of the All-Russia Athletics Federation (ARAF).

"It is certainly too early to speak about me potentially being the head of the ARAF," Isinbayeva said in an interview with TASS.

"However, I have been thinking about running for the post of the ARAF president."

READ MORE: Isinbayeva: IAAF decision discrimination on national grounds, violates human rights

Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko confirmed a decision would be made next month about who will be appointed to the role.

Meanwhile, the International Swimming Federation (FINA) has cleared four-time world champion Yulia Efimova to compete in the Games.

This follows Thursday's ruling by the Court of Arbitration for Sport that the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) decision to ban Russian athletes with a previous record of doping from taking part, even if they had served their suspensions, was "unenforceable and in violation of athletes' rights.”

Efimova, who won bronze at the London 2012 Games, was suspended in 2014 until February 2015 after testing positive for a growth hormone.

In addition to Efimova, FINA also cleared Anastasia Krapivina, Mikhail Dovgaluk, Darya Ustinova and Natalya Lovtsova to participate in Rio.

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