special to Irish Runner.com - Eoghan Young-Murphy

Sonia O'Sullivan was last night told: You won't be competing in the Commonwealth Games next year.

In the past few days, the Cork native has again reiterated her desire to represent Australia on a one-off basis in the Games in Melbourne, where she lived for much of the past four years.

A report in Sunday's Sydney Morning Herald titled 'Sonia's Irish Eyes Spy Green and Gold' stated "As long as the paperwork is completed on time," referring to O'Sullivan's admittance to the Commonwealth Games under the flag of Australia.

O'Sullivan's partner and manager, Nic Bideau, is an Australian native and the couple has spent much of the past four years residing within a stone's throw of where the Games will take place. This year she was granted residency and is now attempting to reach the required fitness levels that will allow here compete in the 5,000m - the event at which she won silver at the Sydney Olympic in 2000.

But Louise Martin, of the Commonwealth Games Federation, said: "There is absolutely no way that Sonia will be competing in the Games. In recent years, we have put in place procedures that will make sure that athletes are not competing under flags of convenience.

O'Sullivan was quoted in the aforementioned Sydney Morning Herald article about competing in the 5,000m at the Commonwealth Games, "And then I could run for Ireland the following week at the world cross-country in Japan. That would be perfect."

"This is a clear case of an athlete wishing to compete under such. The idea that an athlete can compete for Australia one week and Ireland the next, as Sonia proposes, is ludicrous. And I will not be passing it if it gets to the Commonwealth Games Board.

"All athletes must have a three-year gap between the countries they compete for. This can be reduced to one if both of the respective countries are in agreement. So, Sonia is out on that count also."

Sydney Morning Herald article titled Sonia's Irish Eyes Spy Green and Gold