Despite his plans to change his nationality Frantz Kruger could still represent South Africa at next year's Commonwealth Games.
That's after the IAAF voted on Wednesday for a new rule stating that athletes who change allegiance have to wait three years after being granted citizenship to represent their new country at a major event. The waiting period is one year if both countries agree to the switch.
Previously, athletes could compete as soon as they had completed three years without representing their old country.
Both South Africa and Finland have agreed to the move but Kruger is still meeting the Finnish government's requirement of living in the country for 18 months, with 15 months still to go before he then has to undergo a language test. Only then will he be considered for citizenship.
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With the Commonwealth Games taking place in March next year, the defending Commonwealth discus champion will still not have a Finnish passport (and so his obligatory year out will not have started yet). So it may not be for the last time that Kruger dons his South Africa vest for the World Championships starting in Helsinki on Saturday.
- This article was originally published on page 23 of The Star on August 04, 2005
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