Cuba's Robles not authorised to represent another country

The Cuban Athletics Federation has warned that hurdler Dayron Robles, Olympic champion in Beijing 2008, is not authorised to represent any other country in the Memorial Primo Nebiolo, held at the Italian city of Turin.

"Robles quit Cuba's Olympic team last year, according to his own wish, and he does not have the authorisation of the national entity to compete for any other country, as established by the IAAF rules," Alberto Juantorena, president of the Cuban Athletics Federation, said Saturday, reports Xinhua.

"I did not plan to retire for ever. I had problems with the femur, but gradually I recovered and now I feel great. This is my first competition of the year. I resumed my training in Havana and I feel ready. I will seek to do my best," the hurdler announced on his blog.

Robles, 26, ended up injured in the final of the 110 metres hurdles in London 2012 Olympics, and requested to be relieved from the Cuban athletics team Jan 23.

Robles is the most acknowledged Cuban hurdler who won the Olympic gold in Beijing in 2008, when he also set a world record in Ostrava, Czech Republic, with 12.87 seconds, and won the world title in the 60 metres hurdles at Qatar-2012 and the Diamond League in 2011.