1 year ago
07/13/2018 12:58pm CDT
this whole thread appears to based on an assumption that rojo has made concerning Sonia O'Sullivan's daughter having the right to change her affiliated nation. without that assumption, which I think is false, there would be no question concerning Briana Williams' running for the US.
you could always just read the rules.
In order to understand the relevant rule, you first need to know that IAAF Rule 1 defines competitions to which the rules apply. and the following parts of Rule 1 are relevant here:
1. (a) the World Athletics Series and the Olympic Games.
1. (b) The Athletics programme of Area, Regional or Group Games not confined to participants from a single Area where the IAAF does not have exclusive control.
1. (c) Regional or Group Championships in Athletics not confined to participants from a single Area.
1. (f) Area Championships and other intra-Area competitions organised by an Area Association.
1. (g) The Athletics programme of Area, Regional or Group Games, and Regional or Group Championships in Athletics confined to participants from a single Area.
those are the competitions defined under Rule 1. 1(a), (b), (c), (f) or (g), that get mentioned a lot in Rule 5.
Rule 5 deals with Eligibility to Represent a member (nations are members of the IAAF and athletes represent members).
Rule 5
1. 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 (or Territory) which the affiliated Member represents and who comply with the eligibility requirements of this Rule 5.
2. 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 1.1(a), (b), (c), (f) or (g) if he is 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).
3. Subject to Rule 5.4, an athlete who has represented a Member in an International Competition held under Rules 1.1(a), (b), (c), (f) or (g) shall not be eligible to represent another Member in an International Competition held under Rules 1.1(a), (b), (c), (f) or (g).
4. An athlete who has represented a Member in an International Competition under Rules 1.1(a), (b), (c), (f) or (g) shall be eligible to represent another Member in an International Competition under Rules 1.1(a), (b), (c), (f) or (g) (with immediate effect unless otherwise stated) in the following circumstances only:
(a) if the Country (or Territory) of the Member is subsequently incorporated in another Country that is or subsequently becomes a Member; (b) if the Country (or Territory) of the Member ceases to exist and the athlete becomes a Citizen as of right of a newly formed Country ratified by Treaty or otherwise recognised at international level that subsequently becomes a Member; (c) if the Territory of the Member does not have a National Olympic Committee and an athlete qualifies to compete at the Olympic Games for the Territory’s parent Country. In such a case, the athlete’s representation of the Territory’s parent Country at the Olympic Games shall not affect his eligibility to continue to compete for the relevant Member Territory in other International Competitions under Rules 1.1(a), (b), (c), (f) or (g). emphasis added.
I didn't see anything in there that made the rules age specific. the defining criteria seems to be the category of competition an athlete participates in. if you compete in an even not covered by Rule 1. 1(a), (b), (c), (f) or (g), then it appears that you can still choose who to compete for. but once you've competed in a competition defined under Rule 1. 1(a), (b), (c), (f) or (g), you're locked in.
cheers.
