Yelena Isinbayeva urges IAAF not to ban Russia

Russia's double Olympic pole vault champion Yelena Isinbayeva has written an open letter pleading for world athletics body the IAAF not to issue a blanket ban on the country's athletes.

The IAAF’s ruling council is meeting on Friday night and is expected to announce a provisional suspension following the World Anti-Doping Agency’s independent commission which found evidence of “state-sponsored” doping in Russia.

Isinbayeva’s letter has been published on the Russian athletics federation’s website and says it is unfair to ban clean athletes such as herself.

She says: “All my victories are honest, ”clean“ and deserved. I have always followed and am following all the anti-doping rules precisely. The situation the Russian national team is in now is very sad but I ask you not to treat all the athletes in the same negative way.

“To ban innocent and not connected to that doping scandal athletes from competing in international events and Olympic Games in Rio is not fair. I hope for the wisdom of the leaders of the IAAF. And I believe that the correct decision will be taken.

“Those who are guilty will pay their price, and those who are innocent will have the opportunity to compete and represent our country in a dignified manner at all international sports arenas. ”

On Friday the Russian Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko said he would co-operate with international organisations to improve his country's anti-doping regime and was ready to sack officials, in line with instructions from President Vladimir Putin.

“We have clear instructions from the president to find common ground with the international organisations and I will do that, I will cooperate with them. If we need to fire everyone, we will do that, but I will find common ground and cooperate.” Mutko said.

He also said that Russia was open to the idea of creating a new anti-doping body in the country, and that he did not rule out criminal prosecutions over the doping scandal.

Meanwhile the German parliament have passed a new anti-doping law that foresees jail terms and stiff fines for top athletes, coaches and managers who use or acquire banned performance-enhancing substances.

The law only targets top athletes, supported by state funds and on the national anti-doping agency’s test pool and does not affect amateurs.

Athletes will face up to three-year sentences if found guilty of doping or even just the possession of drugs without a positive test.

Doctors or other individuals procuring the substances could be sent to jail for up to 10 years as the entourage of the athletes is also moved more into focus.

"This law declares war on deceivers and cheats," German Justice Minister Heiko Maas said.

It still needs to be ratified by the upper house of the German parliament, expected to be a formality, to come into force in January next year.

The German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) welcomed the law.

“It has several improvements that strengthen the joint effort of the state and sport’s fight against doping,” the DOSB said in a statement.

Several other European nations, including Italy, Spain and France, have already passed similar laws.