Although there were more than 300 IAAF Rule Change proposals on the table, Council decided to implement just one new provision with immediate effect in accordance with its powers under Rule 6.11c and subject to confirmation by the Congress in Helsinki.

Council agreed that IAAF Rule 5.2 d, which relates to Changes of Nationality, will be changed so that the period of ineligibility of an athlete who had competed for one Member Federation and wanted to change to another, would only begin when the athlete received citizenship.

An athlete shall not represent his new Member in an International Competition under Rules 1.1 for a period of three years following the acquisition of new Citizenship. This period may be reduced to 12 months with the agreement, in writing, of the Members concerned.

Up until now, the period of ineligibility began from the last time an athlete competed for his or her original federation, regardless of when the athlete actually obtained new Citizenship.

For all the other Rule Change proposals, Council has to decide whether to approve, or not approve, each individual proposal so as to provide guidance for IAAF Congress delegates who will be called on to vote in Helsinki. This work was not completed today and a further session is scheduled for tomorrow morning.

Please note that 26 rule proposals were considered to be simply editorial and therefore will not be discussed by Council.

The complete list of Rule Change Proposals with Council's comments will be sent to Member Federations by 2 May 2005.