They said that new rules on athletes’ should be flexible, adding that the athletes had the right to represent the country of their choice.
The IAAF President, Sebastian Coe, had at the meeting said: “It has become abundantly clear with regular multiple transfers of athletes, especially from Africa that the present rules are no longer fit for the purpose.
“Athletics, which at its highest levels of competition is a championship sport based upon national teams, is particularly vulnerable in this respect.
“Furthermore, the present rules do not offer the protection necessary for the individual athletes involved and are open to abuse’’.
However, a working group has been set up to study the subject area and would submit proposals for new rules as a matter of urgency, not later than the end of 2017.
The embargoed rules entails eligibility to represent a member in international Competitions held under Rules 1.1(a), (b), (c), (f) or (g).
“Members shall be represented only by athletes who are citizens of the country which the affiliated members represent and who complies with the eligibility requirements of this Rule 5.
“An athlete who has never competed in an international Competition under Rules 1.1(a), (b), (c), (f) or (g) shall be eligible to represent a Member in an international Competition under Rules 1.
Rule 1(a), (b), (c), (f) or (g) if he is: (a) A citizen of the country (or territory) by virtue of having been born or by virtue of having a parent or grandparent born in the country (or territory)
(b) A Citizen of the country through the acquisition of a new citizenship but, in such a case, he may represent his new Member no earlier than one year.
“Following the date of acquisition of new Citizenship pursuant to the athlete’s application, this period of one year may be reduced or cancelled as set out below:
(i) the period shall be cancelled if the athlete has completed one continuous year of residence in the Country immediately preceding the international Competition in question;
(ii) the period may be reduced or cancelled in exceptional cases by the Council.
An application for a reduction or cancellation must be submitted by the relevant Member in writing to the IAAF Office at least 30 days before the international Competition in question.
However, athletics enthusiasts who spoke to the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) are of the opinion that any athletes who sought after improved career abroad should be allowed to do so.
Tony Osheku, a renowned athletics coach, said he was in support of the IAAF, saying that there were countries that did not have the interest of these athletes at heart.
He said he was optimistic that the council had thought it over before coming to such conclusion.
“I am in support of IAAF because of countries like Bahrain, Qatar that use these athletes; to me they use them like mercenaries because they use them for a while.
“For me, I do not think that it is good for the athletes and nations whose athletes are being naturalised. IAAF is looking out for the athletes’ interest,’’ he said.
He also added that if an athlete felt cheated in his country and sought greener pastures, such athlete should not be stopped.
“I know that the IAAF is still working on the modalities for the new rule. I feel that if any athlete wants to switch allegiance, such person should be allowed.
“If they feel that their country is not giving them what they want, they should be allowed to change but there should be rules guiding such,’’ he said.
Gadzama Tafida, a Sydney 2000 Olympic gold medallist and board member, Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), said athletes should be made to have an alternative if their potential was not utilised by their countries.
“I am against the law; I support athlete’s decision to have an alternative.
Tafida said the IAAF should work out a modality that would not restrict the athletes from switching their nationality.
Olalekan Soetan, a Hurdles Coach, said that IAAF needed to look for a solution to how most African athletes were treated in their countries.
“Talking about how third world athletes are being treated, what is the IAAF doing to caution member federations when most of these athletes are treated like slaves in their homeland.
“Athletes moving for better federations are taking risk because if they stay, they are most likely never to get to the peak of their careers.
“A lot of athletes will continue to move overseas in search of greener pastures. I am an advocate for go where you want,’’ he said. (
