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**Moonax** · 08-28-2004, 01:16 PM

And Zola Budd sounded really English. What's your point?

And lest we forget all the 'English' cricketers.

Ottey has been running for Slovenia since 2002. She lives in Slovenia.

http://www.canoe.ca/Slam020513/trk_ott-ap.html

Merlene Ottey hopes to compete for Slovenia at European Cup in June

Monday, May 13, 2002

LJUBLJANA, Slovenia (AP) -- Former world champion sprinter Merlene Ottey said Monday she hoped her native Jamaica will soon agree to let her compete for her new country, Slovenia, so that she can take part in the European Cup in June.

Ottey, a former world champion over 200 metres, was granted Slovene citizenship last week. The 41-year-old athlete, who has lived and trained in Slovenia for several years, has won 20 world championship medals and eight Olympic medals.

However, the Jamaican Athletic Federation must approve her transfer before she can compete for Slovenia. Such a notion is largely formal, but the head of Slovene Athletic Federation, Roman Jakic, said he would ask his Jamaican colleagues to speed up the procedure.

Ottey said she hoped to be "able to compete for my new country in the European Cup and the European Championship," to be held in August in Munich.

"I hope to win some more medals -- this time for Slovenia," she told reporters. "And I believe my chances are excellent."

Ottey said she has been training both 100 and 200 metres, but was most confident in the 4x100-metre relay.

Ottey, who said she planned to spend the rest of her life in Slovenia, has given no reason for the change of citizenship. But her decision could be linked to her appearance for Jamaica at the Sydney Olympics. Although she finished fourth in the 100 metres, she was unpopular among some team members and part of the Jamaican public.

Ottey was a last-minute appointment to the Jamaican team, displacing national champion Peta-Gaye Dowdie after the International Amateur Athletic Federation lifted her one-year ban for testing positive for an anabolic steroid. The federation later ruled that a Swiss lab mishandled Ottey's sample.

08-28-2004, 01:16 PM	#324
Moonax Sunteti chiar prost? Posts: 15,102	And Zola Budd sounded really English. What's your point? And lest we forget all the 'English' cricketers. Ottey has been running for Slovenia since 2002. She lives in Slovenia. http://www.canoe.ca/Slam020513/trk_ott-ap.html Merlene Ottey hopes to compete for Slovenia at European Cup in June Monday, May 13, 2002 LJUBLJANA, Slovenia (AP) -- Former world champion sprinter Merlene Ottey said Monday she hoped her native Jamaica will soon agree to let her compete for her new country, Slovenia, so that she can take part in the European Cup in June. Ottey, a former world champion over 200 metres, was granted Slovene citizenship last week. The 41-year-old athlete, who has lived and trained in Slovenia for several years, has won 20 world championship medals and eight Olympic medals. However, the Jamaican Athletic Federation must approve her transfer before she can compete for Slovenia. Such a notion is largely formal, but the head of Slovene Athletic Federation, Roman Jakic, said he would ask his Jamaican colleagues to speed up the procedure. Ottey said she hoped to be "able to compete for my new country in the European Cup and the European Championship," to be held in August in Munich. "I hope to win some more medals -- this time for Slovenia," she told reporters. "And I believe my chances are excellent." Ottey said she has been training both 100 and 200 metres, but was most confident in the 4x100-metre relay. Ottey, who said she planned to spend the rest of her life in Slovenia, has given no reason for the change of citizenship. But her decision could be linked to her appearance for Jamaica at the Sydney Olympics. Although she finished fourth in the 100 metres, she was unpopular among some team members and part of the Jamaican public. Ottey was a last-minute appointment to the Jamaican team, displacing national champion Peta-Gaye Dowdie after the International Amateur Athletic Federation lifted her one-year ban for testing positive for an anabolic steroid. The federation later ruled that a Swiss lab mishandled Ottey's sample.