Mike Edwards, Team Nigeria’s sole representative in the men’s High Jump at the forthcoming Commonwealth Games (CWG) in Gold Coast, Australia, has appealed to the IAAF to allow him compete at the Games scheduled to start on Wednesday.

Mike Edwards, 27, is the latest victim of the new rule introduced by the IAAF on February 6, 2017.

The new rule placed indefinite freeze on the transfer of allegiance process largely in a bid to protect vulnerable African athletes from being poached by other countries.

He was, however, named on the Nigerian team to the Commonwealth Games in February having been cleared by the British Athletics.

Edwards, who has a Jamaican father and Nigerian mother, is already in Australia for the Games and had been accredited by the Commonwealth Games Federation.

He then received a call from the international Athletics body that he won’t be able to compete at the Games having represented Great Britain at the European Junior Championships in 2009.

Mike Edwards has therefore made the decision to stand at a spot in the Games Village so as to bring some awareness to his plight with the hope that the IAAF will soften its stance and rescind the decision before the competition begins.

He took to his Facebook page to share his thoughts as follows: “No shame. I’ll stand here every day until IAAF makes a change. It’s wrong what they’re doing. I’ve come too far. I’ve sacrificed way too much to fold at the Commonwealth Games. Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games

“As a law abiding dual citizen of Great Britain and Nigeria, I should have every right to represent #TeamNigeria regardless if I chose to represent my birth country GB almost a decade ago, at a Jr. level Championship.

“I may not be the most decorated athlete in the world but I’m resilient. Remember, it’s been nine years since my last major Championship. I don’t quit easy… This sign is a representation of the levels I’m willing to take it too. I just want to compete. Call me back IAAF.”