O'Sullivan given Games go-ahead

O'Sullivan spends over six months of the year in Australia

Ireland's Sonia O'Sullivan is eligible to compete for Australia at the Commonwealth Games in Melbourne, Athletics Australia has confirmed.

The Olympic 5,000metres silver medallist plans to bid for a team place over that distance by contesting the Australian trials this month.

Despite her Commonwealth hopes, she can still compete for Ireland in this year's European Championships.

O'Sullivan lives in Australia for much of the year and is now a citizen.

An IAAF rule change last year was thought to have ended O'Sullivan's hopes of competing in the Commonwealth Games but the Irishwoman has been given clearance by the IAAF.

"I have finally got my nationality sorted out but I will not really believe it until I've got the certificate in in my hand," said O'Sullivan.

She said: "Let's remember I am Irish and they don't come and compete in the Commonwealth Games but with dual nationality I can now do so. It's a simple thing really.

I need a couple of good track sessions before the Australian trials Sonia O'Sullivan

"No matter what championship it might be, I would never compete against Ireland. That is the country where I was born and bred. But this is an exception."

"I've just come back from altitude training at Falls Creek and it went really well," said the 36-year-old.

"I'm feeling fit and strong and now I need a couple of good track sessions before the trials," she added.

"There's some good young Australians running down here and I'm taking them very seriously."