BREAKING: Global Athletics Body Rejects Ofili's Bid to Represent Turkey

World Athletics has delivered a significant setback to Nigerian sprinter Favour Ofili's bid to change her nationality, rejecting Turkey's application to switch her allegiance ahead of the 2028 Olympic Games. This decision was outlined in a document obtained on Thursday, which revealed the World Athletics Nationality Review Panel's ruling against the Türkiye Athletics Federation's submission.

n

The panel, consisting of Donna Raynor, Cydonie Motherskill, and Susanne van Waert, deemed that approving the request would compromise key regulatory principles in international athletics, citing concerns about the implications for global competition integrity. The application was part of a larger recruitment effort involving multiple athletes, which raised red flags about the potential consequences for fair competition.

n

The World Athletics panel thoroughly reviewed submissions from all parties involved, including Ofili and the Turkish federation, before reaching its conclusion that the application would not be approved. The panel explicitly stated, "The Application by the TAF for Favour OFILI (the ‘Athlete’) to transfer allegiance from NGR to TUR is not approved," in its ruling.

n

According to World Athletics, its eligibility rules grant discretionary powers to reject nationality switches that threaten broader institutional objectives, such as maintaining fair competition and promoting the development of homegrown talent. The panel determined that approving Ofili's switch would undermine these objectives, particularly in the context of Turkey's government-backed recruitment drive targeting foreign athletes.

n

Turkey's application was one of 11 submitted as part of this recruitment effort, which aimed to bolster the country's international competitiveness ahead of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games with lucrative contracts for foreign athletes. The panel found that this strategy risks weakening the credibility of national representation by encouraging athletes to switch allegiance for financial or competitive gain rather than genuine national ties.

n

Despite considering Ofili's grievances with Nigerian athletics authorities, the panel concluded that these issues did not outweigh the broader regulatory concerns. Ofili had last represented Nigeria at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and had since acquired Turkish citizenship, signed a long-term contract, and indicated plans to relocate to Turkey.

n

However, these developments were not sufficient to justify approval under the existing rules, and the document stated, "Because the Application is not approved, the Athlete is not entitled to transfer allegiance to TAF and is not eligible to represent TUR in National Representative Competitions."

n

Notably, the ruling clarified that Ofili remains free to compete in international meetings in a personal or club capacity and can continue to live and train in Turkey if she chooses, providing her with some flexibility despite the rejection of her nationality switch application.

n

Ofili had initially announced her intention to switch allegiance in September 2025, citing dissatisfaction with the handling of her career by Nigerian athletics authorities, and the 23-year-old is one of Nigeria's top sprinters, having set a world record in the 150m in 2025.