BEIJING, China, August 9. TODAY, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) ruled against Octavian Gutu's attempt to swim for the Republic of Moldova at the Olympic Games.
Gutu previously represented Romania at the 2007 World Championships, but had applied for a sports citizenship change to swim for Moldova.
Here is the complete release from CAS:
The CAS ad hoc Division has dismissed an application filed by the Moldova National Olympic Committee (MNOC) against the International Olympic Committee (IOC).
The MNOC challenged a decision of the IOC denying the participation of Octavian Gutu as a representative of the MNOC.
A CAS Panel composed of Judge Deon H. Van Zyl (South Africa) (President), Mr Jingzhou Tao (France) and Professor Luigi Fumagalli (Italy) dismissed the application and confirmed the IOC decision for the reason that Mr Gutu represented Romania at the 2007 Swimming World Championships held in Melbourne and that, in accordance with the Olympic Charter, a change of sporting nationality is possible only after a period of three years has elapsed since the competitor in question last represented his former country. Such period can be reduced or waived only with the approval of the relevant National Olympic Committees (NOC) and the relevant International Federation. In the present case, both NOCs concerned had given their agreement but not the International Swimming Federation (FINA).