Threat to O'Sullivan Melbourne medal hopes

Irish athlete Sonia O’Sullivan’s hopes of competing for Australia in the Commonwealth Games hinge on a meeting in Melbourne tomorrow.

The Commonwealth Games Federation will discuss whether or not a new eligibility rule will be applied in Melbourne and vote on the issue.

O’Sullivan, 36, hopes to compete for Australia in the 5,000m after being granted dual citizenship.

But a loophole which means she could still represent Ireland is set to be closed, possibly in time to see her miss her Commonwealth medal chance.

O’Sullivan finished second in the Australian 5,000m trials last month and has said she also wants to compete for Ireland in the European Championships this year.

CGF executive Mike Hooper told BBC Sport: “I am 100% confident it will be passed, but I can’t predict when the board will determine for it to be applied.

“Whether it will be immediate or it will be post-Games, that is something they will debate.

“I don’t want to personalise it, but the loophole makes an absolute mockery of the Games.”

There is normally a three-year wait for athletes who opt to switch countries but it does not apply to the Commonwealth Games under current regulations as Ireland is not a member country.