Global athletics governing body World Athletics has rejected applications by five prominent Kenyan athletes seeking to switch allegiance to Türkiye, citing concerns over the integrity of international competition.
In a decision announced by its Nationality Review Panel, World Athletics declined a total of 11 applications from athletes across multiple countries, including Kenya, Jamaica, Nigeria and Russia.
Among those affected are Kenyan stars Brigid Kosgei, Ronald Kwemoi and Brian Kibor, as well as Catherine Relin Amanang’ole and Nelvin Jepkemboi.
“The panel considered that approval of these applications would impinge upon and compromise the imperatives underlying the World Athletics eligibility rules and transfer of allegiance regulations,” the body said in a statement.
According to the panel, the applications were linked to what it described as a coordinated recruitment strategy by the Türkiye government, aimed at attracting elite foreign athletes through lucrative contracts to compete under its flag in future international events, including the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
The panel said such a strategy undermines key principles designed to preserve fairness and credibility in global athletics.
“These principles are designed to safeguard the credibility of international competition, encourage Member Federations to invest in the development of domestic talent and maintain confidence among athletes that national teams are not primarily assembled through external recruitment,” the statement added.
The decision means the affected athletes will not be eligible to represent Türkiye in national team competitions or major international events under its banner.
However, World Athletics clarified that the ruling does not bar them from participating in one-day meetings or road races as individuals or club athletes, nor does it restrict their ability to live or train in Türkiye.
The rejected list also includes Jamaican athletes Rajindra Campbell, Jaydon Hibbert, Wayne Pinnock and Rojé Stona, Nigeria’s Favour Ofili, and Russia’s Sophia Yakushina.
World Athletics emphasized that while citizenship is a key requirement in nationality changes, additional criteria must be met to demonstrate a genuine link between the athlete and the country they wish to represent.
“While citizenship is a starting point, additional criteria are applied to ensure a genuine connection between the athlete and the country they represent and to protect the integrity, credibility and development of the sport globally,” the organization said.
The ruling is likely to spark debate within athletics circles, particularly in Kenya, which has in recent years seen a number of athletes switch national allegiance in pursuit of better training opportunities and financial incentives.
With the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics on the horizon, the decision signals a firm stance by World Athletics against what it views as state-driven talent acquisition, reinforcing regulations intended to maintain competitive balance and national identity in the sport.
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