International Olympic Committee president Jacques Rogge has revealed his unease at athletes who have switched nationalities for financial gain ahead of the Olympic Games.
Yesterday, Cuban triple jumper Yamile Aldama and German cyclist Philip Hindes were both cleared to compete for Britain at this summer's games.
The debate on nationality has been raging on, with some of Britain's top athletes – such as American-born sprinter Tiffany Porter – being labelled 'plastic Brits'.
Rogge conceded that, although Aldama and Hindes both have legitimate reasons to change nationalities, he "does not love" it when athletes switch for monetary gain.
"You have athletes who for absolutely legitimate reasons want to change nationality, because they get married, because they get a new job, because of studies," said Rogge. "You have a number of athletes who switch nationality mainly because there is absolutely no support or money available at the level of the sports ministries, there is no way they can get grants.
"Then you have those athletes where there is support for them but they go to another country because there is a bigger gain to be made. Legally we cannot stop this but it does not mean we love it.
"I have reservations in the cases of the athletes who obviously don't lack any support emanating from their sporting and government authorities and who still change nationality. We cannot oppose it because it is a matter of sovereignty but let me tell you frankly we do not love that."
Aldama was granted a British passport as she is married to a Scot, while Hindes qualifies because his father is British.
Porter also qualifies for British nationality through her mother.
