Jamal says switch was not for money

Wed Dec 13, 2006

By Martin Petty

(L-R) Silver medallist Yuriko Kobayashi of Japan, gold medallist Maryam Yusuf Jamal of Bahrain and bronze medallist Sinimole Puaulose of India pose with their medals during the award ceremony for the women's 1500m race final during the 15th Asian Games in Doha December 12, 2006. REUTERS/Jerry Lampen

DOHA (Reuters) - Ethiopian-born Maryam Yusuf Jamal insists her decision to switch allegiance to Bahrain was borne out of love of athletics, not for money.

Oil and gas rich Bahrain and Qatar have between them won 22 Asian Games medals in athletics, 15 of which came from former Africans who have switched citizenship.

The double Asian Games gold medallist said she chose Bahrain when Ethiopian athletics chiefs shunned her because of her tribal background.

"My situation is very different -- I changed my citizenship because I was rejected by my own country," Jamal told a news conference after winning the women's 1,500m.

"I asked Ethiopia to include me in their team but they refused three times. Bahrain accepted me. Otherwise, I would never have run here."

Jamal, 22, was born into the Christian Oromo tribe, which is opposed to the ruling Ethiopian Peoples' Revolutionary Democratic Front.

Oromia region is also the birthplace of 10,000m runner Haile Gebrselassie, who has won four successive world titles and set 21 world records.

Under the name Zenebech Kotu Tola, Jamal sought political asylum in Lausanne, Switzerland, and was unable to compete in the Athens Olympics in 2004.

Her husband and coach, Tareq Sabt Hasan, described Ethiopia's refusal to select her as "stupid" and insists Jamal is not chasing dollars.

"Some athletes from Kenya have changed countries just for the money, to give them a better life, but she is different," Hasan told Reuters.

"She is here because she just wants to run. People see the Kenyans earning money by running for Gulf countries and they think she is the same. They don't understand her past."

He said Bahrain offered her the opportunity to compete at top events.

"Now, with Bahrain, she has her freedom."

Reuters India