OREANDA-NEWS  The press service of the International Olympic Committee (IOC) has responded to information that the organization has forced two-time Olympic pole vault champion Elena Isinbayeva to leave Russia. This is reported by TASS.

The IOC rejected the accusations of blackmail of the athlete. "There is not a word of truth in this, it is an absolutely fabricated story," the committee said.

Earlier, track and field athlete Vera Ganeeva revealed the reason for Isinbayeva's departure from Russia. She stated that Isinbayeva was forced to leave the country by the IOC members.

The 43-year-old athlete is a major in the Russian Armed Forces. Since 2023, Isinbayeva has been living in Tenerife, Spain.