Gambian Jaysuma Saidy Ndure has finally made up his mind to run for Norway instead of his native Gambia.  The 23-year-old athlete finished second in the men’s 100 metres at the IAAF Grand Prix at Rieti, Italy Sunday, September 9. He finished behind Jamaican Asafa Powell who set a new men's world 100 metres record of 9.74 seconds.

Jaysuma Saidy’s saga has been the centre of controversy in recent years. The Gambia record holder in 200 and 800 meters, earlier fell out with the Gambia Athletics Association, citing lack of proper treatment as the main bone of contention.

During his last visit to The Gambia in February 2007, the Bakau-born athlete made public his intention to naturalise in Norway, if there was no improvement. As he currently represents Norway at the Rieti Grand Prix in Italy, Jaysuma will now join the likes of footballers John Alieu Carew and Pa Modou Kah, as Norwegians of Gambian descendent.

Sprinter Jaysuma Saidy Ndure was born on July 1, 1984 in Bakau.

He represented Gambia at the 2004 African Championships in Congo Brazzaville, where he finished third in 100 metres. He also won the 200 metres at the 2001 West African Championships.

At the 2006 IAAF World Athletics Final in Stuttgart, Jaysuma Saidy Ndure finished sixth in the 200 metres with a new Gambian record time of 20.47 seconds.