Global track and field governing body to maintain strict stance on athletes changing national allegiance, according to Coe

Sebastian Coe, the president of World Athletics, has reiterated his commitment to taking a firm stance on the issue of athletes changing their nationality, following his federation's decision to block a bid by several top Jamaican and Kenyan athletes to represent Turkey.

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This move affected athletes such as Roje Stona, the 2024 Olympic men's discus champion from Jamaica, and a group of five Kenyans, including former women's marathon world record-holder Brigid Kosgei, who were all targeted by Turkey with lucrative offers.

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According to Coe, the fundamental principle is that an athlete should begin and end their career representing the same country, as he explained in an interview on Friday, on the eve of the World Athletics Relays event in Botswana.

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Coe emphasized that for global championships to be meaningful, they must feature national-based competitions, allowing spectators to witness athletes competing for their countries, which is essential for the sport's integrity.

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A World Athletics panel carefully examines each request to switch nationality, and while Coe acknowledges that there may be valid reasons for doing so, such as marriage or political intolerance, he remains resolute in his opposition to moves driven solely by financial gain.

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Turkey's attempt to recruit elite athletes from other countries by offering them financial packages to boost its medal count at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics is a prime example of a move that would be rejected, as it does not meet the criteria for a valid nationality switch.

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Coe stressed that his organization will remain tough on such matters, as many federations rely heavily on government investment, which would dry up if governments believed their funding was being used to develop talent for other countries.

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Letsile Tebogo, the 2024 Olympic 200 meters champion, has previously revealed that he turned down offers to switch to Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Tunisia, demonstrating his commitment to representing his home country.

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Botswana, with a population of 2.5 million people and an economy largely based on the desert region, has faced economic challenges due to the downturn in the global diamond market, which accounts for 30 percent of its GDP.

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Despite these economic difficulties, Botswana continues to invest in its successful athletics program, which has produced talented athletes like Tebogo, who is a leading figure in a talented group of Botswanan sprinters.