NEVILLE 'TEDDY' McCook, the IAAF's area representative, has moved to clear the air regarding the subject of change in citizenship for international athletes.

In a release on Wednesday, McCook pointed out that "at a meeting in Doha on April 10, 2005, the council agreed that IAAF Rule 5.2d, which relates to changes of nationality, should be changed so that the period of ineligibility of an athlete who had competed for one member federation and wanted to change to another would only begin when the athlete received citizenship.

"An athlete shall not represent his new member in an international competition under Rules 1.1 for a period of three years following the acquisition of new citizenship. This period may be reduced to 12 months with the agreement, in writing, of the members concerned, or even less at the discretion of council.

"Up until then, the period of ineligibility began from the last time an athlete competed for his or her original federation, regardless of when the athlete actually obtained new citizenship."

According to McCook, "the IAAF Juridicial Commission is currently studying this issue of nationally changes, with the aim of suggesting ways to improve the current system even further, in time for the IAAF congress in Osaka in August 2007."