Russian fury as Olympic athletics ban upheld

Russian pole vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva has called the International Association of Athletics Federations’ decision to maintain Russia’s athletics ban ahead of this summer’s Olympic Games a “violation of human rights” and said she plans to appeal.

Russia’s athletics team remains banned from global competition after the sport’s governing body voted unanimously against lifting the suspension, which was imposed for systemic doping.

Despite desperate Russian attempts to have the ban lifted before the Rio Olympics in August, the IAAF’s 27-strong council decided Russia had not met the criteria for reinstatement.