‘Isinbayeva’s election to IOC is athletes response to injustice’

Rio de Janeiro, Aug 19 (IANS) Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) President Alexander Zhukov has said the election of Russia's two-time Olympic champion pole vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva to the International Olympic Committee's (IOC) Athletes' Commission is a response of the world's athletes to injustice.

Isinbayeva, along with three other sportspersons, was elected by other athletes to the IOC Athletes' Commission here on Thursday.

"It is symbolic that she was chosen after she was not allowed to participate in the Olympics. The fact of her election is a response of all the athletes to injustice. It is Yelena Isinbayeva's victory," Zhukov said on Thursday.

He added the fact that the athletes supported the Russian pole vaulter was very important.

In 2015, the World Anti-Doping Agency's (WADA) Independent Commission issued a report accusing Russia of numerous breaches of global anti-doping regulations, which led to Russia's suspension from the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF).

In July, IAAF banned all Russian track and field athletes, including Isinbayeva, from taking part in international competitions including the ongoing 2016 Rio Olympics, making an exception for long jumper Darya Klishina.