BASSETERRE, St. Kitts - VETERAN sprinter Kim Collins has disclosed that talks are taking place between his representatives and the St. Kitts and Nevis Amateur Athletic Association (SKNAAA) in an effort to allow him to compete at next month's International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) World Championships in Moscow.
According to an article on theinsidegames.biz, Collins was quoted as saying there are persons on the ground lobbying on his behalf in order to try and come to a resolution.
"There are persons who are speaking on my behalf and it is trying to be resolved as best as possible so we will be looking forward to some news shortly that everything is resolved and everything is okay and we can all move forward," he said.
An online petition to get him back in the national squad was started by fans of the sprinter and Collins was very appreciative of the gesture.
“Well, with that you know, I don't know who started it but I think some fans started a petition on Facebook and Twitter and I think it's really great to see when the fans step up, and moments like these you realise how important they are and how much we have to love and respect them.
"It is something that the fans would love to see and I don't think they should be denied that and I don't think I should be denied that chance either," Collins said.
Collins vowed in 2012 never to represent the country of his birth again after he made global headline news when his fifth Olympic appearance ended prematurely following a visit to his wife and allegedly went missing for days.
In 2013, however, Collins ran below 10 seconds twice, which includes setting a new National Record in at the IAAF Diamond League meeting in Lausanne.
Collins is also tipped by a number of pundits to secure a medal at the upcoming IAAF World Championship following the absence of many top sprinters through bans and injuries.
If Collins is allowed to compete at the World Games on August 10, 2013, he will set a World Record for competing an unprecedented 7th time at the Games.
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