ATHLETICS: Isinbayeva seeks Russian athletics boss post

This file photo taken on August 13, 2013 shows Russia's Yelena Isinbayeva attending the women's pole vault final at the 2013 IAAF World Championships at the Luzhniki stadium in Moscow. World athletics governing body IAAF rules June 17 about whether Russia, suspended in November over a report on state-sponsored doping, will be allowed the compete at the Rio Olympics. If the IAAF rules to uphold Russia's suspension, some key track and field stars will miss the Games. / AFP PHOTO /

Two-time Olympic pole vault champion Yelena Isinbayeva is among four candidates, who have registered for an election to choose a new president of the All-Russian Athletics Federation (ARAF), the organisation said on its official website.

Isinbayeva, 34, was among 67 Russian athletes ruled out of this year’s Olympics in Rio de Janeiro by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) after a World Anti-Doping Agency report uncovered systematic state-sponsored doping in Russia. Russian athletes were banned in November 2015 from competing in international competitions and the new ARAF chief’s main task will be to try to lift the suspension.

Isinbayeva has said she will never forgive the IAAF for imposing the ban. Russian media say Isinbayeva, who won gold at the Athens and Beijing Games, is the frontrunner for the job. The election will take place in Moscow on December 9.