Rebrik, born in the Black Sea resort of Yalta in what was then the Soviet Union shortly before the fall of the Iron Curtain in 1989, competed for Ukraine for the first decade of her athletics career.

This included winning gold at the 2012 European Championships in Helsinki with a best mark of 66.86 metres, as well as the European Junior title in 2007 and the World Junior crown the following year.

The latter victory was achieved with a world junior record mark of 63.01m.

Rebrik also represented Ukraine at both the Beijing 2008 and London 2012 Olympic Games, finishing in 16th and 19th positions in qualification respectively.

Following the Russian annexation of the Crimean Peninsula in 2014 - a move condemned by Kyiv and the West as an illegal land grab - the 27-year-old successfully switched nationality. 

Under international rules, an athlete must normally wait three years before they are allowed to represent a new country unless officials from the other nation give their blessing.

Permission for Rebrik and six others to make the switch was granted by the Federation of Track and Field Athletics of Ukraine (UAF).

In return, the UAF received $170,000 (£114,000/€156,000) compensation.

Rebrik duly represented Russia at last year's World Championships in Beijing, finishing 24th in qualifying with a best throw of 59.67m.

But this decision was subsequently overruled by Ukrainian Sports Minister Igor Zhdanov, who ruled that all those affected must wait the full three years.

His stance was backed by Sergey Bubka, President of the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine (NOCU).

"Of course, the right to permit the transition athletes belongs to the National Federations, which are independent public organisations," the 1988 Olympic pole vault champion and IOC Executive Board member said following a meeting of the NOCU Executive Committee in December.

"The NOC can influence only when it comes to reducing the moratorium to participate in the Olympics.

"The NOC appeals to the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine and National Federations that, when considering applications for permission to transition the athlete to the team of another country to take into account national interests in sport and the position of the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine on this issue. 

"Let us not forget that for years the Government has invested in the training of an athlete a lot of money."

Zhukov, a close ally of IOC President Thomas Bach who is chair of the Coordination Commission for Beijing 2022, has now requested special permission from the IOC, the TASS news agency in Russia has reported.

"We have sent a request to the IOC to allow Vera Rebrik to perform for Russia," said the official, a colleague of Bubka on the IOC. 

insidethegames understands that Bubka's stance remains unchanged since December.

At present, the discussion is academic because all Russian athletes are banned from Rio due to the All-Russia Athletic Federation being suspended from the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) following allegations of state sponsored doping.

They will only be allowed to compete if the suspension is lifted in time.

A similar example came in the 1990s when Wilson Kipketer switched nationality from Kenya to Denmark in time to win gold at the 1995 World Championships in Gothenburg.

He was blocked from competing at the Atlanta 1996 Olympic Games, however, after the IOC ruled in favour of the Kenyan Athletics Federation's opposition to his presence.

Qatar's world 3000m steeplechase champion Saif Saaeed Shaheen was also barred from competing at Athens 2004 for similar reasons after a block by Kenya, for whom he had previously competed under the name Stephen Cherono.

A possible alternative solution on this occasion could involve Rebrik forming part of the IOC's new refugees Olympic team at Rio 2016.

insidethegames has contacted the IOC for a reaction.