Posted: January 18, 2005

Athletics: No Change Of Allegiance For Denboba

From David Monti

(c) 2004 Race Results Weekly, all rights reserved RaceResultsWeekly.com

By Bob Ramsak

Ethiopian runner Merima Denboba was erroneously listed as an Italian citizen in entry documents at the Belfast International Cross Country event on 08-Jan, causing a stir that she had changed national allegiance. But organizers of that race said today in a press release that it was merely a data entry error.

"We have learnt today that due to a typographical error in entry proceedure for the IAAF Belfast International Cross Country, the above athlete was listed erroneously as representing Italy," said elite athlete liaison John Bicourt. "This we now know was not correct and we will establish with the athletics press in the U.K. and world wide her true national representation as Ethiopia."

Denboba, the bronze medallist in the long course race at the 2003 IAAF World Cross Country Championships and silver medallist in 1999, tied for second place in the Belfast Race. She is represented by Gianni Demadonna of Trento, Italy.