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Cuban volleyball player Yoandy Leal cleared to represent Brazil

Xinhua, May 5, 2017 Adjust font size:

Cuba's Yoandy Leal on Thursday received permission from the International Volleyball Federation (FIVB) to represent his adopted country Brazil.

The 28-year-old was one of 13 players whose request for a change of nationality was approved by the FIVB after a meeting of its executive board in Marrakesh.

Despite the decision, the governing body said Leal would have to wait until 2018 before representing the South American country.

"These players will have the same rights and obligations as the players from their new federation of origin," FIVB said in a statement.

"However, players who have represented their previous federation of origin in international competitions will have to complete a two-year waiting period before being eligible for selection by their new federation."

Leal left Cuba in 2010 after representing the Caribbean nation at the 2010 world championships in Italy, where his team lost the final to Brazil.

He has represented Brazilian team Sada Cruzeiro since 2012 and was given Brazilian citizenship in 2015. Endit