Yelena Isinbayeva
Yelena Isinbayeva
Russian pole-vaulter Yelena Isinbayeva has lost her bid to obtain special permission to compete in the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro, the two-time Olympic gold medalist has said.

The International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) barred almost the entire Russian track-and-field team from Rio following accusations of a systematic state-sponsored doping cover-up.

The IAAF, however, has said some Russian track-and-field athletes would be able to compete as special cases.

"The miracle did not happen," Isinbayeva wrote on Instagram in reference to her attempt to get exemption given she has never failed a doping test.

U.S.-based long jumper Darya Klishina is the only Russian track-and-field athlete the IAAF deemed eligible to compete at the August 5-21 Games.

Under International Olympic Committee rules introduced last week following the doping scandal, Russian athletes must be individually approved by international sports federations to compete at the Rio Games.