Russia's Isinbayeva earns IOC spot

Double Olympic pole vault champion Yelena Isinbayeva, a fierce critic of a Russian track and field ban at the Rio Olympics, has been elected an IOC member despite strong opposition.

The Russian, still the reigning world record holder, was excluded from the Games along with more than 100 of her team mates following revelations of a systematic, state-backed doping program in Russian sport.

Isinbayeva received 45 votes in favour and 23 against with two International Olympic Committee members abstaining.

The vote came three days after she earned a spot on the IOC's athletes' commission.

With tears in her eyes, she greeted IOC President Thomas Bach following her election.

She will now serve an eight-year term on the body.

The 34-year-old, who won gold at the Athens and Beijing Games, is also hoping to replace Dmitri Shlyakhtin as head of the Russian athletics federation (ARAF) when he steps down in November.