The move, which would only be possible if the current ban on Russia athletes is lifted later this month, was made in the face  of opposition of the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine (NOCU) and the Ukrainian Sports Ministry.

Under international rules, an athlete must normally wait three years before they are allowed to represent a new country unless officials from the other country give their permission. 

A final decision is passed to the IOC Executive Board when there is a dispute, however.

They received a special request in April from Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) President Alexander Zhukov urging for permission for Rebrik to be allowed to make the switch.

NOCU President Sergey Bubka is among the 15 members of the IOC Executive Board.

The 1988 Olympic pole vault champion was asked to leave for room before a decision was made in order to avoid a conflict of interest, the IOC said.

insidethegames understands that Ukraine will not now pursue any further action.

Rebrik, born in the Black Sea resort of Yalta in what was then the Soviet Union shortly before the fall of the Iron Curtain in 1989, competed for Ukraine for the first decade of her athletics career.

She won a gold medal at the 2012 European Championships in Helsinki and competed at both the Beijing 2008 and London 2012 Olympic Games, finishing in 16th and 19th positions in qualification respectively.

Other achievements included a world junior title in 2008 with a record mark of 63.01 metres.

Following the Russian annexation of the Crimean Peninsula in 2014 - a move condemned by Kyiv and the West as an illegal land grab - the 27-year-old successfully switched nationality. 

Permission for Rebrik and six others to make the switch was granted by the Federation of Track and Field Athletics of Ukraine (UAF).

In return, the UAF received $170,000 (£114,000/€156,000) compensation.

Rebrik represented Russia at last year's World Championships in Beijing, finishing 24th in qualifying with a best throw of 59.67m.

The decision to allow her to compete for Russia was was subsequently overruled by Ukrainian Sports Minister Igor Zhdanov, who ordered that all those affected must wait the full three years.

"Of course, the right to permit the transition athletes belongs to the National Federations, which are independent public organisations," said Bubka when backing the Government's stance at a meeting of the NOCU Executive Committee in December.

"The NOC can influence only when it comes to reducing the moratorium to participate in the Olympics.

"The NOC appeals to the Ministry of Youth and Sports of Ukraine and National Federations that, when considering applications for permission to transition the athlete to the team of another country to take into account national interests in sport and the position of the National Olympic Committee of Ukraine on this issue. 

"Let us not forget that for years the Government has invested in the training of an athlete a lot of money."

The decision comes as IOC President Thomas Bach continues to receive criticism for his close relationship with Russia, despite the allegations of state-sponsored doping surrounding the country.

Zhukov, a former member of the State Duma, is seen as a close ally of Bach and was appointed head of the IOC Coordination Commission for the Beijing 2022 Winter Olympics and Paralympics earlier this year.

Rebrik was one of 13 switches in nationality approved by the IOC during its Executive Board meeting here.

They included a second Crimean-born athlete switching from Ukraine to Russia, four-time Olympic windsurfer Olga Maslivets.

Middle distance runner David Torrence, a Toronto 2015 Pan American Games silver medallist in the 5,000 metres who remains the US record holder over 1,000m, has switched to Peru.

Another athlete to make the switch is Julia Bleasdale, who finished eighth over 5,000m and 10,000m for Britain at London 2012, but will now compete for Germany.