Isinbayeva says Olympic hopes end with tears

Two-time Olympic pole vault champion Yelena Isinbayeva has said she faced lawlessness and chaos in the fight for the right to perform at the 2016 Olympic Games starting in Rio de Janeiro on August 5.

On Sunday, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) decided not to ban the Russian team. Individual decisions on Russian athletes will be taken by relevant international federations, reports TASS.

The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) told TASS that it will not reconsider applications of Russian athletes to participate in the 2016 Olympic Games.

"Our fight for Rio is over. It's not my fate to stand at the highest step of the podium at the Olympics once again. Russian national anthem will not play for me again, and I will not bring joy to my dear fans once again with my pole vaulting," Isinbayeva wrote on her Instagram.

"Our defence was weak, I would even say zero, no one defended my rights. It is very sad to feel powerless in the face of this lawlessness and chaos. Tears stream down my cheeks from realisation of everything I have done for athletics," the three-time world champion continued.

"Together with Yevgeny Valisyevich (Trofimov -- coach) were ahead of time by 10 years with our world records and victories. Pole vaulting became sports number one in world athletics, and my victory in Cheboksary still remains the best result in the world," the 34-year-old added.

"It will remain a mystery what I could have given to the world in Rio -- which height, which emotions."

--IANS

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