ATR First: WADA Comments on Isinbayeva's Ouster

(ATR) Two-time Olympic pole vault champion Yelena Isinbayeva is out as the chair of the Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA).

She was under pressure to quit her post by May 31, one of the four steps the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) had required for RUSADA to regain accreditation.

Isinbayeva, according to Interfax, says she would remain a member of RUSADA's supervisory council.

Alexander Ivlev, the vice-chairman of the supervisory council, will replace her as chair, though TASS is reporting that a decision on a long-term successor to Isinbayeva has not been made.

WADA, in a statement to Around the Rings, says "The election of Mr. Ivlev as Chair of the RUSADA Supervisory Board meets the requirements outlined in RUSADA’s roadmap to re-compliance which states that the Board’s Chair and Vice-Chair must be independent."

WADA blasted Russia in December for failing to be consulted before Isinbayeva was chosen to oversee the country’s anti-doping agency.

The pole vault star has been an outspoken critic of WADA after missing Rio 2016 due to the IAAF’s blanket ban on Russian track and field athletes.

RUSADA remains suspended in the wake of explosive revelations in WADA investigation reports that found evidence of Russian state-sponsored doping.

Written by Gerard Farek

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