The Russian two-time Olympic pole vault champion and world record holder had been expected to quit at the age of 34 and she revealed here that her election to the IOC Athletes' Commission had made the decision easier.

"Yelena Isinbayeva is finishing her career today," she said.

"I thought I would be very sad but the election has inspired me. 

"I am not saying goodbye to sport, just to my sport.

"But I am happy I have fulfilled myself and achieved my dreams."

Isinbayeva, though, remains unhappy that she has ended her career barred from taking part in these Olympic Games because Russia is currently suspended by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF), led by Sebastian Coe, following allegations of state-supported doping. 

"Why am I here and not preparing for the final?," she said.

"Because the IAAF set criteria that were impossible to meet.

"How can one person ban someone from training and living in their own country?

"These are impossible odds; we could not fulfil these criteria. 

"These are criteria that should apply to everyone."

Isinbayeva claimed she had been tested five times by foreign agencies in the last six months and passed every one. 

"My victories are all clean, all my tests have been negative. 

"I am a victim of circumstances. 

"At first I thought I would never forgive them for banning me.

"Now I have changed my mind. 

"If the President of the IAAF [Coe] believes that they did an honest thing and that we were treated fairly, then let god be the judge.

"It will be on their conscience.

"I am proof that clean sport exists in Russia. 

"It's nonsense to ban everyone because a few have doped."

Isinbayeva is particularly upset that having supported Coe during his successful campaign to become the new President of the IAAF he has now banned Russia.

"The President doesn't talk to me and avoids all meetings with me," she said.

"If I had the chance to talk to him, I'd ask why did he ban me."

Isinbayeva is also unhappy that Coe has not congratulated her on becoming a member of the IOC after she was elected yesterday along with German fencer Britta Heidemann, Hungarian swimmer Daniel Gyurta and South Korean table tennis player Ryu Seung-min.

"I forgive the President and the [IAAF] Executive Board for the injustice," she said. 

"But only one member of the IAAF congratulated me.

"I was offended by this."