MOSCOW, 27 Aug – President of the World Athletics Association (World Athletics) Sebastian Coe declined to comment on the words of two-time Olympic champion and world record holder in pole vault Russian Elena Isinbayeva, who said that the organization is silent about her merits.

Earlier, World Athletics published a list of 40 women who have made the most significant contribution to the history of the world championships in athletics. Two-time Olympic champion, three-time world champion in pole vault Elena Isinbayeva and Olympic champion, three-time world champion in high jump Maria Lasitskene are missing from it. There are no other Russian athletes on the list either. On Friday, Isinbayeva wrote on social media that World Athletics, under Coe, was “zealously trying to keep quiet” about her merits.

After a question from a reporter, a World Athletics employee sitting next to Coe said, “Seb, I’m afraid we didn’t get this information to you.”