MOSCOW (AP) – Pole vault world record-holder Yelena Isinbayeva and other Russian track and field stars came together Monday to decry the suspension of their country’s athletics federation.
“Why should those like me suffer for the mistakes of irresponsible athletes who allow themselves to do doping?” two-time Olympic champion Isinbayeva said at a news conference. “This situation has to be examined on a case-by-case basis.”
The IAAF provisionally suspended Russia on Friday after it was accused by a World Anti-Doping Agency commission of operating an extensive state-backed doping program.
“I would like to urge the IAAF to act objectively,” Isinbayeva said.
The suspension means all Russian athletes are banned from international competition until Russia is declared complaint with global anti-doping rules. Until then, they could miss the world indoor championships in Portland, Oregon, in March and the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.