Russian legend Isinbayeva to go to court over IAAF ban

Twice Olympic pole vault champion Yelena Isinbayeva intends to prove in court that an IAAF ban on Russian athletes from international competition is a violation of human rights, TASS news agency reported on Friday.

Meanwhile, Russia's Sports Ministry said it was extremely disappointed by the IAAF's decision to uphold a ban of all Russian track-and-field athletes from international competition and the Rio Olympics would be diminished by their absence.

"Clean athletes' dreams are being destroyed because of the reprehensible behaviour of other athletes and officials," the ministry said in a statement.

"We have done everything possible since the ban was first imposed to regain the trust of the international community ... We have nothing to hide and feel we had met the IAAF’s conditions for re-entry."