Russian Pole Vault legend Yelena Isinbayeva will be removed from a key anti-doping position in Russia as she is a barrier to the country’s compliance with the World Anti-Doping Agency code, the body says.

The double Olympic champion, has been critical of the punishment of Russian athletes over evidence of state sponsored doping in the country.

She was one of those banned from taking part in the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio.

Russia has until November to comply, or those athletes will remain suspended.

Isinbayeva, now retired, was not mentioned by name as the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) gave its latest update on Russia’s progress towards compliance on Thursday.

But after former Wada president Dick Pound referenced opposition within the body to her appointed in March Rob Koehler, chair of Wada’s Compliance and Review Committee was quoted as saying… “As of May 31, the person will be gone.”

On Friday, Russia’s deputy prime minister Vitaly Mutko was quoted by the R-Sport news agency as saying Isinbayeva “will definitely step down from her post”.

Wada also announced plans to introduce new powers that would allow it to ban individual national Olympic committees and international sport federations that fail to meet its rules.