Sprinter can compete at the European Championships in Berlin after IAAF approves his transfer of allegiance

Sprinter Leon Reid has been cleared to compete for Ireland and will race at the European Championships in Berlin, Athletics Ireland has announced.

The 24-year-old (pictured above, number 1) had been provisionally selected for the event in Germany pending a decision from the IAAF following the reinstatement of the transfer of allegiance process on Monday.

Reid began a transfer of allegiance application to switch from Great Britain to Ireland in June 2016 but his case got caught up in the freeze imposed by the IAAF in February last year, when Coe described the rules in force at that time as “no longer fit for purpose” and “open to abuse”.

The Bath-based athlete, who won Commonwealth 200m bronze for Northern Ireland in April, last represented Britain at the European U23 Championships in July 2015, when he claimed 200m silver.

He now wishes to run for Ireland as his late birth mother was from Belfast and his step-mother is from County Wexford in Ireland and he feels he has a strong affinity with the country.

When announcing the reinstatement of its transfer of allegiance process, the IAAF said that, due to upcoming area championships, the review panel would endeavour to process those cases that had been held in the system as quickly as possible.

Reid is set to compete in the 200m in Berlin.

Leon Reid has been cleared to represent Ireland and will compete at the @EuroAthletics Championships pic.twitter.com/8oevp0dfii

— Athletics Ireland (@irishathletics) August 3, 2018

https://twitter.com/LeonReid_Woody/status/1025786424824672256