IAAF puts freeze on transfers of allegiance

Sebastian Coe (C), IAAF's President, Rune Andersen, head of the IAAF taskforce on Russia (R) and Hamad Kalkaba Malboum (L), President of the Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) attend a press conference as part of the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) council meeting in Monaco, February 6, 2017. REUTERS/Eric Gaillard

MONACO (Reuters) - The governing body of world athletics (IAAF) has put an immediate stop to changes of nationality by athletes, saying the system has become open to abuse and rules are being manipulated.

IAAF President Sebastian Coe said a working group would be set up to agree new rules by the end of the year.