Yelena Isinbayeva wants to become president of Russian athletics federation
Thursday 11 August 2016 08:54, UK
Yelena Isinbayeva is to run for president of the Russian athletics federation (ARAF).
Double Olympic pole vault champion Isinbayeva, who is unable to compete at the Rio Olympics due to a doping ban on Russia's athletics team, told the ARAF's official website that she wanted to help her country's athletes return to elite competition.
The 34-year-old, who won gold in Athens and Beijing, is hoping to replace Dmitri Shlyakhtin when he steps down in November.
"The ARAF has a difficult path ahead in trying to return to international athletics," she said.
"The fact that I was not allowed to compete in the 2016 Olympics will help me to try and make sure that the ARAF is a member of the IAAF again.
"I want our athletes to take part in international competitions. The chance to help Russian athletes return to the elite is a huge motivation for me and will be some sort of compensation for not being able to compete in Rio."
