Graffin brothers opt for NI

Andy Graffin won the 5000 metres at the 2003 AAAs

Olympic athlete Andy Graffin and his twin brother Allen have opted to declare for Northern Ireland.

The Belgrave duo have been named in the NI team for the Stormont International Cross Country event on 10 January.

They are eligible to compete for Northern Ireland under the parentage rule and could represent the province at the 2006 Commonwealth Games.

Andy made it through the opening round of the 1500m at the Sydney Olympics.

He has a personal best for the metric mile of three minutes, 35.53 seconds, set in 2002, while Allen¿s fastest 5000m is 13:40.07.

Northern Ireland Athletics Federation secretary John Allen told BBC Sport the brothers had recently sent letters revealing their intention to switch from England.

"I think they had a feeling that they have been receiving something of a raw deal from England in terms of selections," said Allen.

"Under new rules adopted by the Commonwealth Games organisers, athletes will be able to represent countries providing their parents were born in that country.

Some resentment

"This was not the case before and there was the case of Adrienne McIvor who was prevented from representing Northern Ireland in Manchester at the 11th hour.

Inevitably, there will be some resentment at the news with certain coaches and athletes arguing that a couple of locals would now be prevented from representing their country at Stormont.

David Morwood is in this category and his coach Eamon Christie told BBC Sport that the development would not benefit Northern Ireland athletics.

"Davy Morwood has been told that he is a reserve when he would have expected to have been named in the 12 athletes who will run at Stormont," said Christie.

"We should be investing in the youth and developing talent at an early enough stage instead of this kind of thing."

However, John Allen said the Northern Ireland federation had no option but to consider the 26-year-olds.

"Under the rules, they are eligible and if we did not pick them we would be open to all kinds of accusations," said Allen.