The sprinter remains hopeful of representing Ireland at next month’s European Championships but must wait a bit longer after the IAAF decision on Friday.

The IAAF announced on Friday (July 27) that it will reinstate the Transfer of Allegiance process under new rules, with immediate effect, which been in place since February 2017.

Last year the Council froze the Transfer of Allegiance rule so it had time to develop a solution to the growing problem of athlete trafficking.

Leon Reid, who has been charting his season throughout 2018 on Fast Running, was one of the athletes impacted by the freeze, which put on hold his transfer from Great Britain to Ireland.

Under the new rules which are detailed below, the 24 year-old meets all of the criteria for his transfer to go ahead. However, he now faces a nervous wait for his application to be processed in time to represent Ireland at the European Championships, which takes place in Berlin from August 7-12.

“As you all probably know the last few years have been up and down trying to get any answers but finally, the IAAF have come to a decision about the pending transfers,” said Reid on Twitter following the announcement from the world governing body. “But this does not mean that my transfer is complete, it will be processed properly through the right channels and hopefully resolved in time for Europeans.”

Reid will compete in the Irish national track and field championships this weekend where he aims for a 100m and 200m double.

In a statement, the IAAF said: “As there are Area Championships approaching in the next few weeks, the Transfer of Allegiance Review Panel will endeavour to process those that have been held in the system as quickly as possible.

“Athletes and Member Federations will be required to complete new paperwork and sign a declaration before their case is reviewed by the panel. No athlete is able to confirm they have transferred to another territory or country until the review panel has made a final decision.”

The new rules, which were approved by the IAAF Council in March, are outlined below:
– a minimum three-year waiting period before an athlete may transfer to represent another Member;
– establishment of a review panel to make determinations on the credibility of applications;
– the provision of evidence that countries are offering full citizenship and associated rights;
– the provision that an athlete can transfer only once; and
– that no transfers take place before the age of 20.