Cuban Robles not authorized to represent another country

Cuban Robles not authorized to represent another country
Updated: 2013-06-09 08:39:00
(Xinhua)

HAVANA, June 8 (Xinhua) -- The Cuban Athletics Federation warned that
hurdler Dayron Robles, Olympic champion in Beijing 2008, is not
authorized to represent any other country in the Memorial Primo Nebiolo,
held on Saturday at the Italian city of Turin.

"Robles quitted from the Olympic team last year, according to his own
wish, and he does not have the authorization of the national entity to
compete for any other country, as established by the IAAF rules," the
president of the Cuban Athletics Federation, Alberto Juantorena was
quoted by the weekly "Workers".

Juantorena confirmed that "at the Turin cup will not compete any other
Cuban athletes preparing for the Russian World Cup (August) and much
less (the also hurdler) Orlando Ortega, as announced by the digital site
of the Italian tournament, as the boy (Ortega) is in Havana right now."

"Workers" highlighted Juantorena's astonishment when knowing Robles'
announcement that he was to run again in Turin, after a long time away
from the track.

"I did not plan to retire for ever. I had problems with the femur, but
gradually I recovered and now I feel great. This is my first competition
of the year. I resumed my training in Havana and I feel ready. I will
seek to do my best," the hurdler announced in his blog.

Robles, 26, ended up injured in the final of the 110 meters hurdles in
London 2012 Olympics, and requested to leave the Cuban athletics team on
January 23.

Robles is the most acknowledged Cuban hurdler who won the Olympic gold
in Beijing in 2008, when he also set a world record in Ostrava, Czech
Republic, with 12.87 seconds, and won the world title in the 60 meters
hurdles at Qatar-2012 and the Diamond League in 2011.

http://www.chinadaily.com.cn/xinhua/2013-06-09/content_9275001.html