Olga Zabelinskaya’s nationality change from Russian to Uzbek will make her ineligible for the World Championships in 2018 and 2019, the International Cycling Union (UCI) has confirmed. Zabelinskaya had expressed concern that her Russian nationality might affect her ability to compete at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics.

However under UCI rules, cyclists that change nationality are not eligible for the World Championships for two years. Under Article 1.1.033 § 2(e) of the UCI Cycling Regulations (PDF below), a rider who has chosen a new nationality may not participate in the World Championships during the year that the nationality change is approved by the UCI, or the year after such approval.

In February 2016, Zabelinskaya accepted a sanction for an anti-doping rule violation (ADRV) in a ‘pre-trial agreement’ that would allow her to compete at the Rio 2016 Olympics. In December 2015, the UCI decided to appeal a Russian cycling federation (RCF) decision to clear Zabelinskaya to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS). Although her positive test for octopamine dated back to March 2014, it was reported that disagreements over jurisdiction caused delays, and the Russian Anti-Doping Agency (RUSADA) only directed the RCF to deal with the case in December 2015.