(ATR) Russian pole vault star Yelena Isinbayeva announces her retirement, saying she is inspired by her election to the IOC Athletes Commission in an emotional, opinionated and combative news conference.
Isinbayeva, prohibited from competing in Friday night’s women’s pole vault final, re-affirmed previous bold comments that the winner will be second best in her absence, expressed disdain for the blanket ban on Russian Athletics and said God will judge IAAF president Sebastian Coe and track officials for their decision.
"To my regret, I will not be able to fight for gold," she said of the evening competition at Rio’s Olympic stadium. "All of my Olympic victories and victories at other championships have always been clean. I did not have a positive test. I fell victim to these circumstances."
The 34-year-old Isinbayeva advised that she has undergone five doping tests this year upon impressively returning to competition – three urine and two blood – all of them clean.
Isinbayeva said she has forgiven Coe, but he will have to live with the decision.
"I have forgiven Mr. Coe and members of the executive board for this injustice… if they truly believe their decision is just – let it be on their conscience and let God decide," Isinbayeva said.
The two-time Olympic gold medalist and current world record holder admitted that Russia has a doping problem, adding "we faced impossible odds" to meet the IAAF criteria in the short time frame for reinstatement into the Rio Games. However, she asserted her belief that accusations in the McLaren Report are unsubstantiated.
"In Russia, we have a huge number of athletes who have a doping history, but its on the same level as other countries in the world – it’s a global problem," Isinbayeva said firmly. "Our country should not be singled out – clean sport exists in Russia and I am proof of that."
"I would like to see more facts – this report is far from complete," she proclaimed about the 97-page McLaren report which documented Russian doping transgressions and cover-ups, including covert schemes at a Sochi 2014 lab.
Isinbayeva thanked IOC president Thomas Bach for remaining objective in the decision not to issue a blanket ban on all Russian athletes for Rio. She said it was an honor to be one of four athletes elected to the IOC Athletes Commission by her peers and vowed to fight for clean athletes during the eight-year term.
"It’s a great victory – I’d like to thank all of them from the bottom of my heart," she said of her fellow athletes who voted this week in Rio. "I promise to fight for clean athletes, not just in Russia, but for athletes around the world. Athletes should not suffer for those who are not clean."
The Russian athletics icon said she is disappointed having not being congratulated by either Coe or IAAF members on her appointment. The pole vault icon also revealed that her relationship with Coe is on rocky terms and he has not recently spoken to her.
"I’m a bit offended – we are on the same team, but I did not receive any congratulations," Isinbayeva revealed. "He will not talk to or meet with me."
Isinbayeva will officially be accepted into her new position within the IOC on Sunday.
"I have a lot of work and a great deal of new responsibilities and this is something that I like," she said.
Isinbayeva, who raised the pole vault bar to world record heights 28 times during an illustrious career that took off following victory at Athens 2004, would not rule out the possibility of assuming leadership of ARAF, Russia’s track and field federation, in the future. The federation remains banned by the IAAF.
"I’m sure that the IAAF executive committee is going to rescind the ban," Isinbayeva said with confidence. "I think we’ve fulfilled all criteria, so the ball is in their court."
Isinbayeva said she is looking forward to helping athletics exceed expectations come Tokyo 2020, but at age 38, she will not be capable of competing at the same high levels. Shedding a tear, Isinbayeva officially announced her retirement from competition.
"I am saying goodbye to my sport and pole – I’m happy that I’ve fulfilled myself. I won all titles and the love of fans all over the world."
Written by Brian Pinelli in Rio de Janeiro.
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