Yelena Isinbayeva elected to IOC athletes commission despite Rio ban
By Charlotte Bates
Last Updated: 18/08/16 7:59pm
Two-time Olympic pole vault champion Yelena Isinbayeva has been elected onto the IOC's athletes commission, despite being excluded with the Russian team from taking part in the Rio Games.
The 34-year-old, who has been elected on an eight-year term, was unable to defend her title after the Russian squad was hit with a blanket ban over the doping scandal which rocked track and field.
Isinbayeva was elected alongside German fencer Britta Heidemann, South Korean table tennis player Ryu Seung-min and swimmer Daniel Gyurta from Hungary.
"The athletes are at the heart of the Olympic Games," IOC president Thomas Bach said. "Their voice is very important in the IOC.
"My congratulations go to the newly-elected members of the IOC Athletes' Commission. We are looking forward to working closely with them to further advance the Olympic Movement."
The election was held over 25 days in the Olympic Village in Rio de Janeiro, where the announcement was also made.
The four new members will replace outgoing members Claudia Bokel, Dae Sung Moon, Alexander Popov and Yumilka Ruiz Luaces, who were elected to the Athletes' Commission at the Beijing Games in 2008.
Claudia Bokel, who will be handing over the title of chair of the commission to Angela Ruggiero at the end of the Games, commended the new members.
"Congratulations to the four newly-elected members to the IOC athletes' commission, which is the voice of all the athletes within the Olympic Movement.
"I wish them all the best in their contribution to the Commission under the leadership of incoming Chair Angela Ruggiero."
On August 21, Heidemann, Ryu, Gyurta and Isinbayeva will be proposed to the IOC Session for IOC membership. Pending approval, they will then be officially introduced at the Closing Ceremony of the Olympic Games Rio 2016 on the same day.
