The double Olympic pole vault champion and world record holder was appointed chair of the Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) last December. 

But Rune Andersen, head of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) Taskforce, has claimed the appointment, which the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) tried to block, has sent the wrong message and could harm the reinstatement chances of the Russian Athletics Federation (RusAF). 

"It is difficult to see how this helps to to achieve the desired change in culture in track and field, or how it helps to promote an open environment for Russian whistleblowers," said Andersen in a report presented to the IAAF's ruling Council on the second of its two days of meetings here. 

Andersen, who did not attend the Council meeting in person due to a calendar clash, is upset that Isinbayeva "called the WADA Commission report 'groundless' even though she had never read it".

The Norwegian was also critical of Isinbayeva following her lack of support for whistle-blowers Vitaly Stepanov and 800 metres runner Yuliya Stepanova, who she claimed should be banned for life. 

Isinbayeva has also failed to support Andrey Dmitriev, another Russian runner to have acted as a whistle-blower.

He has now fled Russia after he claimed to fear for his safety. 

Andersen also warned that Russian claims they are taking anti-doping more seriously is undermined by the failure of Isinbayeva and Yuriy Borzakovskiy, the Olympic 2004 800m gold medallist and now head coach of the national team, to sign a pledge for clean sport. 

Russia has been suspended from international competition by the IAAF since the publication of the first report commissioned by WADA in November 2015 following allegations by Stepanov and Stepanova of state-supported doping in the country on German television channel ARD. 

Several athletes from Russia have since been cleared by the IAAF to compete as neutrals, including at this year's World Championships in London. 

IAAF President Sebastian Coe claimed it was up to WADA to decide whether or not Isinbayeva, a member of the International Olympic Committee, was a suitable person to lead RUSADA but admitted that he believed Russia still had a long way to go before it could be re-admitted. 

"Council was disappointed and concerned to learn that the prospect of the milestones being fulfilled this year by RusAF remains a distant one," he said.  

"In particular the situation of the athlete Mr Andrey Dmitriev, a champion of the clean sport movement in Russia, is alarming considering he has felt it necessary to take sanctuary abroad. 

"Anyone with information about a system which has failed to protect the goals and aspirations of clean athletes must feel it is safe to speak out."

Among the key areas Coe identified as problematic was athlete biological passport records being withheld from testers, some athletes still training in "closed cities" where they could avoid drugs testers and coaches tainted by the previous regime still operating.

Like Andersen, he too is disappointed that Borzakovskiy has not signed the pledge of clean sport. 

"There is no reason why better progress has not been made," Coe said.

"The criteria we laid down is the criteria that stands. 

"This is what we are working to. 

"There is no timeline here. 

"We are going to see this through."