Kolobkov: “It is impossible to undo the achievements of Lasitskene and Isinbayeva”

Down-the-line.com/Athletics. Pavel Kolobkov, Russia’s former sports minister, spoke to World Athletics, saying the organization had humiliated itself by choosing to ignore the exploits of two Russian athletes: pole vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva and high jumper Maria Lasitskene.

Previously, World Athletics did not include these Russian Olympic champions in its ranking of the most influential athletes.

“There is no need for further explanation here, everything immediately becomes clear. This speaks to the actions of our former colleagues and partners in the international federation and not from the best side. Surely, athletics fans realize how much they have contributed to the development of the global sports movement, and in particular athletics.

As for the federation itself which submits to such humiliation, that is its business, even if it continues to do so. In fact, we couldn’t expect anything else from them. In the end, over time, I’m sure everything will return to normal,” Kolobkov said in an interview with RIA Novosti.

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