Pole vault star Yelena Isinbayeva announces retirement

Rio de Janeiro: Two-time Olympic pole vault champion Yelena Isinbayeva announced her retirement from athletics on Friday.

"Yelena Isinbayeva is finishing her career today," the 34-year-old told reporters a day after being elected onto the International Olympic Committee`s athletes commission.

"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," added the world record holder.

Isinbayeva was unable to defend her title in Rio after the Russian squad was hit with a blanket ban by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) over a state-sponsored doping scandal which rocked track and field.