When politics and policy start dictating the Olympic Games, it's all too often athletes who suffer far more than nations.

Yelena Isinbayeva, a two-time Olympic pole vaulting champion, has threatened a lawsuit if Russia's track and field team, currently under worldwide suspension from competition because of doping allegations, is not permitted to compete in Rio.

"It's a direct violation of human rights, discrimination," Isinbayeva said, adding that she would "personally go to an international court regarding human rights. And I'm confident I'll win."

The IAAF suspended Russia in December following a World Anti-Doping Agency report documenting widespread state-sanctioned doping of athletes. The IAAF is due to rule in June on whether Russia can compete in Rio, but a recent report detailing the intense procedures allegedly undertaken by Russian officials to both commit doping violations and cover up those same violations will not help the country's cause.

Isinbayeva, whose appeals to human rights may or may not be applicable in this case, has brandished pages of documentation demonstrating her clean status. "I'm angry because of this helplessness," she said. "All I can do is train." She noted that several athletes whose careers peak in a relatively short timeframe could miss out on opportunity because of events out of their control.

Meanwhile, Russian officials are scrambling to demonstrate their compliance with IAAF and WADA restrictions while simultaneously hinting that other nations should not be free from scrutiny. Russia's government is endorsing plans to make doping, or facilitating doping, a criminal offense.

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Jay Busbee is a writer for Yahoo Sports and the author of EARNHARDT NATION, on sale now at Amazon or wherever books are sold. Contact him at jay.busbee@yahoo.com or find him on Twitter or on Facebook.

