Nov 19, 2015 Yelena Isinbayeva, a former Russian Olympic pole-vaulting champion, recently called on the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) not to punish honest athletes in response to doping allegations against Russia.
Speaking at a news conference, Isinbayeva said:
“What was today decided by the IAAF council, I find totally unfair and unjust towards us first of all, towards honest and clean athletes,
The 33 year old and two-time Olympic gold medalist went on to say:
“There is only one way out, those guilty ones are punished, the innocent ones continue training and compete in a normal regime which existed before this scandal. I don’t think it’s right to hold us responsible for something we haven’t done. Everyone should be held responsible for his own deeds, for whatever he’s done and we support this, please,”
The IAAF suspended the Russian Athletics Federation following allegations of state-sponsored doping. Russia has since announced a three-month road map to clean up its act, with the nation’s Olympic Committee leading efforts to ensure honest athletes can compete at the 2016 Olympics.