IAAF acts on Transfer of Allegiance

[wamego relays champ]

Linked on the front page yesterday was the IAAF News Release "Nationality Review Panel Clears Eight Athletes To Compete Under New Flags."

Transferred allegiance (immediate eligibility):
Rai Benjamin (from Antigua & Barbuda to USA)
Mike Edwards (from Great Britain to Nigeria)
Patrick Ike Origa (from Nigeria to Spain)
Leon Reid (from Great Britain to Ireland)

Transferred allegiance (eligible 01Aug19):
Pedro Pablo Pichardo (from Cuba to Portugal)


Declared eligible for new countries:
Haron Kiptoo Lagat (USA)
Miranda Tcheutchoua (Ireland)
Weldu Negash Gebretsadik (Norway)

I'm guessing that the last three are grouped separately as they had not previously competed in international championships for their country of birth.

[Trickstat]

True, a new country has to apply for membership, but AFAIK that's not a lengthy process.

I remember in 1993 only really registering that Slovakia had split from the Czech Republic when they competed separately at that year's World Champs.The IAAF seem to be quicker for this sort of thing than the IOC and FIFA.

[Powell]

True, a new country has to apply for membership, but AFAIK that's not a lengthy process.

[tandfman]

Yup, it was just a political change, and there is a provision in the rules for those situations. It's just like a country splitting in two, or two countries unifying into one - the athletes are immediately able to compete for new countries.

I would think that countries splitting in two might be a bit more complicated, since one of the new countries would not immediately have a recognized National Olympic Committee or Athletics Federation.

[Powell]

IIRC, those athletes were able to compete for the Netherlands.

Yup, it was just a political change, and there is a provision in the rules for those situations. It's just like a country splitting in two, or two countries unifying into one - the athletes are immediately able to compete for new countries.

[tandfman]

I think there are procedures in place for strange circumstances. I think back to 2010/2011 when the Netherlands Antellies "dissolved" yet athletes were not left without the ability to compete.

IIRC, those athletes were able to compete for the Netherlands.

[Davidokun]

no, that's for people whose federation has been banned.

not to be confused with the refugeee team

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Refuge...ummer_Olympics

Don't forget the independents:

Independent Olympic Athletes at the 2016 Summer Olympics

[gh]

I'm not a global citizen but there should be some mechanism for nationless athletes (through circumstances beyond their control) to compete .

Isn't that what the Authorized Neutral Athlete designation is for?

no, that's for people whose federation has been banned.

not to be confused with the refugeee team

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Refuge...ummer_Olympics

[ATK]

I'm not a global citizen but there should be some mechanism for nationless athletes (through circumstances beyond their control) to compete .

As 18.99 said, there is the ANA. Also I think there are procedures in place for strange circumstances. I think back to 2010/2011 when the Netherlands Antellies "dissolved" yet athletes were not left without the ability to compete.

[18.99s]

I'm not a global citizen but there should be some mechanism for nationless athletes (through circumstances beyond their control) to compete .

Isn't that what the Authorized Neutral Athlete designation is for?

[user4]

I'm not a global citizen but there should be some mechanism for nationless athletes (through circumstances beyond their control) to compete .

[Atticus]

Correlation is not causality...

But sometimes there is - that's all I need!

[26mi235]

So wishing hard enough DOES work?! Yay!

OK now I'm sending out all my mental energy to Mondo.
All is forgiven, Mondo, come home to the Bayoux that spawned you!

Correlation is not causality...

[Atticus]

Rai Benjamin can now compete for the United States.

So wishing hard enough DOES work?! Yay!

OK now I'm sending out all my mental energy to Mondo.
All is forgiven, Mondo, come home to the Bayoux that spawned you!

[Powell]

And in the 100, the AC will more likely make them slower, not faster.