MOSCOW:  Yelena Isinbayeva has stepped down, as the World Anti-Doping Agency had insisted, as head of the supervisory board of the Russian Anti-Doping Agency after only six months.

Elections later this month will be needed to choose a replacement for the former double Olympic pole vault champion, according to Russian Olympic Committee president Alexander Zhukov.

Zhukov sought to soften the blow of Isinbayeva’s abrupt exit by insiting she “has done a very good job in this position.”

He added: “This change does not means that she is removed from these issues. She will continue to fight against doping and will be the ambassador of Russia in this matter. ”

Zhukov said the supervisory board had created a special commission to study the selection of candidates.

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