The World Athletics Nationality Review Panel has declined eleven requests for allegiance transfers to Turkey, citing a “coordinated recruitment strategy” orchestrated by the Turkish government aimed at luring foreign athletes through attractive contracts, as stated by the governing body of the sport on Thursday.
Among the requests were five from Kenyan athletes, including Brigid Kosgei, the former women’s marathon world record holder. Additionally, four Jamaican athletes, such as Roje Stona, the Olympic discus gold medalist, and Rajindra Campbell, the Olympic shot put bronze medalist, submitted requests. The panel also reviewed applications from Nigerian sprinter Favour Ofili and Russian heptathlete Sophia Yakushina.
The panel determined that granting these requests would undermine the fundamental principles of the eligibility rules and the regulations governing transfers of allegiance. According to World Athletics, the applications were part of a systematic recruitment initiative led by the Turkish government via a state-owned club to draw athletes by offering substantial contracts, with the intention of allowing them to represent Turkey in future international events, including the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
The regulations governing transfers of allegiance are designed to ensure that athletes have a legitimate connection to the country they represent, while also protecting the integrity and growth of the sport on a global scale. These rules were strengthened in 2019, with World Athletics president Sebastian Coe commenting that some cases of young athletes changing their allegiance resembled human trafficking.
At the 2016 European Championships, Turkey’s team included seven athletes from Kenya, two from Jamaica, and representatives from Ethiopia, Cuba, Ukraine, South Africa, and Azerbaijan. Notably, Ramil Guliyev, who switched his allegiance from Azerbaijan to Turkey, won the gold medal in the 200 meters at the 2017 World Championships.
Qatar has also been known to employ financial incentives to attract international athletes, such as Egyptian weightlifter Fares Ibrahim Hassouna, who secured Qatar’s first Olympic gold medal during the Tokyo 2021 Games. Additionally, Winfred Yavi switched her allegiance from Kenya to Bahrain at the age of 15, subsequently winning Olympic and world titles in the 3,000 meters steeplechase.
World Athletics clarified that the rejection of these allegiance transfer requests does not hinder the eleven athletes from participating in one-day events or road races in a personal or club capacity, nor does it prevent them from residing and training in Turkey.
