AP. International Amateur Athletic Federation. IAAF.
11 August 2000 – Madrid - Spanish sports officials will meet with International Olympic Committee president Juan Antonio Samaranch in Switzerland on Friday in an effort clear Cuban-born world long jump champion Niurka Montalvo's for participation at the Sydney Olympics.
Cuban Olympic officials told their Spanish counterparts late Wednesday that they would exercise their authority to block Montalvo from representing any country other than Cuba at the Sydney Olympics.
In a letter to Spanish counterpart Alfredo Goyeneche, Cuban Olympic Committee president Jose Ramon Fernandez said the COC's executive board unanimously decided to deny Montalvo from representing any nation other than Cuba in Olympic competition.
He cited rule 46 of the Olympic Charter which says any athlete that has competed in an Olympic Games and changes his or her nationality must wait three years before competing for their new country.
The relevant national Olympic committees have the right to reduce or waive the restriction.
The 31-year-old Montalvo, who competed for Cuba in Atlanta but has lived in Spain for nearly three years and was granted Spanish citizenship a year ago, expressed her surprise Thursday.
"I'm an athlete and I have dedicated all my life to sports. Before I used to do the best I could for Cuba and now my situation has changed and now I do my best for Spain. I stay out of politics,'' Montalvo said on Spanish National Radio.
She said she will fight the decision and appeal to the International Olympic Commitee (IOC) to represent Spain.
Montalvo was granted Spanish citizenship last year after marrying a Spaniard in 1998.
She represented Spain at the 1999 World Championships in Seville, where she won the women's long jump title.
She won the long jump silver in Goteborg, Sweden, in 1995 for Cuba. Her last appearance for the Caribbean country was in 1997 in Paris at the World Indoor Championships.
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