- They noted that the bid was not an isolated case but part of a broader effort involving several athletes
- World Athletics emphasized that its regulations allow it to deny nationality changes if they threaten the wider interests of the sport
- It argued that approving Ofili’s switch could weaken principles designed to promote fair competition
World Athletics has turned down a request by Turkey to change the sporting nationality of Nigerian sprinter Favour Ofili, dealing a setback to her plans to compete for the country before the 2028 Olympic Games.
Eko Hot Blog gathered that the ruling, detailed in a document seen on Thursday, shows that the organization’s Nationality Review Panel declined the application submitted by the Türkiye Athletics Federation after examining the circumstances behind it.
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The panel, made up of Donna Raynor, Cydonie Mothersill, and Susanne van Waert, said approving the request would conflict with important rules that govern international athletics.
They noted that the bid was not an isolated case but part of a broader effort involving several athletes, raising concerns about how such moves could affect fairness and credibility in global competitions.
After reviewing submissions from all sides, including the athlete and Turkish officials, the panel concluded the transfer should not go ahead.
In its statement, World Athletics emphasized that its regulations allow it to deny nationality changes if they threaten the wider interests of the sport.
It argued that approving Ofili’s switch could weaken principles designed to promote fair competition and encourage countries to develop their own athletes.
The panel also pointed out that Turkey had submitted 11 similar applications as part of what it described as a state-supported recruitment initiative aimed at strengthening its squad ahead of the 2028 Olympics.
According to the findings, such an approach risks undermining the authenticity of national representation by motivating athletes to change allegiance mainly for financial or competitive reasons.
Although Ofili raised concerns about her treatment by Nigerian athletics authorities, the panel said those issues did not outweigh the broader implications.
It acknowledged that she last competed for Nigeria at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, has since obtained Turkish citizenship, signed a long-term deal, and planned to relocate, but said these factors were still insufficient under current rules.
As a result, Ofili cannot represent Turkey in official international competitions. However, the decision does not prevent her from participating in events independently or at club level, nor from living and training in Turkey.
The 23-year-old sprinter had announced plans to switch allegiance in September 2025, citing dissatisfaction with how her career was managed in Nigeria. She remains one of the country’s leading track athletes and set a world record in the 150m in 2025.
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