The return of Yelena Isinbayeva, Russia’s most famous track and field athlete, will not be prevented by the independent World Anti-Doping Agency report calling for Russia to be banned from track and field competitions, her coach said.
Isinbayeva’s coach, Yevgeny Trofimov, said Isinbayeva is aiming to break her world-record pole-vault clearance of 5.06 meters in her planned 2016 return, should Russian athletes be allowed to compete.
Read more of Trofimov’s comments in Russian to news agency TASS here.
On Monday, the WADA panel called for Russia to not be allowed to compete in track and field competitions until it cleans up its anti-doping program. The nation may potentially be banned from the Rio Olympics.
Isinbayeva is not one of the athletes implicated in Russian doping reports.
Isinbayeva, 33, said in October she plans to compete for the first time since 2013 in February indoors, according to Russia’s track and field federation.
Isinbayeva, the 2004 and 2008 Olympic champion, gave birth to a girl in June 2014 after winning the 2013 World Championship over 2012 Olympic champion Jenn Suhr.
An Isinbayeva return would add sizzle to one of the most intriguing events on the Rio Olympic track and field program.
In addition to Isinbayeva and Suhr, pole vault medal contenders also include arguably Brazil’s top track and field athlete — 2011 World champion Fabiana Murer — and the reigning World champion, Cuba’s Yarisley Silva.