They have also approved German-born cyclist Philip Hindes' request to compete for Britain at the Olympics.

Aldama's eligibility had already been approved by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) but she still needed the IOC's ruling Executive Board to rubberstamp it so she could compete at London 2012, having represented Sudan at the 2009 World Championships in Berlin.

"In both cases the EB agreed to the request to reduce the three-year waiting period outlined in the Olympic Charter (Rule 41) as the requirement for such a reduction or cancellation had been met," the IOC said in a statement released here.

"Agreement had been given by the International Federation involved as well as both National Olympic Committees concerned."


Aldama is one of several athletes condemned as being "plastic Brits" after deciding to switch nationalities in time to compete for Britain at this year's Olympics.

The 39-year-old had competed for Cuba at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney – finishing fourth – before marrying Scotsman Andrew Dodd the following year.

Following her marriage she applied for British citizenship.

But, shortly after application was submitted, Aldama's husband was sentenced to 15 years for his part in drug trafficking heroin valued at £40 million ($63 million/€48 million).

Unconnected to the offence herself, she decided to remain in the United Kingdom with her husband, who has now been released, and is father to Aldama's two children, both born in Britain.

As she had not lived in Britain before, she had to wait the mandatory three-year period to achieve a passport.

The Home Office refused to fasttrack her application so she could compete for Britain at Athens in 2004, despite her being supported by David Moorcroft, chief executive of the governing body, UK Athletics.


Sudan, though, were happy to grant her a citizenship of convenience and she competed for them at Athens and in Beijing four years later.

In February 2010 she was finally granted a British passport unbeknown to UK Athletics, they claimed.

They only found out she was eligible for Britain after she personally applied to the IAAF for permission to switch nationalities.

She made her British debut at the 2011 World Championships in Daegu, finishing fifth.

She produced the best British performance of the World Indoor Championships in Istanbul last weekend when she became the second-oldest athlete ever to win a gold medal at the event.

It was her third medal in the event, having won silver in 2004 and bronze in 2006 while competing for Sudan.

Indeed, it completed the remarkable record for Aldama of having earned a medal at a major event for every country she has represented having previously won a silver medal for Cuba at the 1999 World Championships in Seville.


Hindes (pictured), meanwhile, was born in Krefeld and represented Germany at the World Junior Championships in 2010, winning a bronze medal as part of their team sprint.

But then joined the Great Britain sprint academy – he has a British father – at the age of 18.

Last month Hindes was a surprise selection in Britain's squad for the World Championships, which are due to take place in Melbourne next month.  

Britain's head coach Shane Sutton believes that Hindes has the potential to cause an upset at London and win an Olympic gold medal.

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