Folks at the 2005 World Championships may be in for a rare treat: the playing of the the Qatar national anthem as the flag is raised for the gold medalist in the 5000 meters (steeplechase?).
According to a report in the East African Standard, Stephen Cherono, who ran 12:48 to beat El Guerrouj and is a sub-8 minute steeplechaser, is seeking Qatar citizenship, along with fellow distance stud Albert Chepkurui. The two have been running for a Qatar club for the past year and Cherono apparently already has a Qatar passport. Qatar wants to them to run in the Athens Olympics next year, but even with a waiver from the Kenyan govt this is questionable as IAAF Rule 12 says an athlete must not have run for [the prior] federation for three years. Cherono represented Kenya at the 2002 Commonwealth Games. More on this at http://www.eastandard.net/sports/sport230603003.htm
