Nigerian sprinter and 150m world record holder Favour Ofili has reportedly switched allegiance to Turkey, three months before the 2025 World Athletics Championships in Tokyo.
Ofili’s switch was announced by Jamaica-based journalist Kayon Raynor on Sunday.
“Nigerian sprinter Favour Ofili has switched allegiance to Turkey as of May 31, 2025. According to impeccable TVJ News Centre sources, 22-year-old Ofili has advised the Athletics Integrity Unit of her frustration with the Nigerian Athletics Federation,” Raynor posted via X.
He also mentioned Ofili’s absence from the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games, as well as the Athletics Federation of Nigeria and the Nigeria Olympic Committee’s refusal to register her for the 100m event at the previous games in Paris, as the reasons behind her switch.
“Ofili stated that the Nigerian Athletics Federation caused her to miss the Tokyo 2020 Olympics after they did not confirm her number of doping control tests and then missed competing in the 100m at the Paris Olympics after they did not enter her for the event. She was sixth in the 200 m final.
“It’s further understood that Ofili impressed upon the AIU that her switch to Turkey was not for financial reasons.”
Meanwhile, the World Athletics Federation still identifies Ofili as a Nigerian athlete on its profile.
The 22-year-old is one among several Nigerian athletes who have qualified for the World Championships, which will take place in Tokyo from September 13 to 21.
She created history at the Adidas Atlanta City Games in May, clocking 15.85 seconds to shatter the previous world record of 16.23 seconds held by Olympic champion Shaunae Miller-Uibo.
This year, the Turkish athletics association has been looking for athletes, especially Jamaicans, and has reportedly offered up to $500,000 to foreign athletes who want to transfer allegiance to the European country.
Following administrative lapses, Nigeria has a long list of athletes who left the country for other countries and went on to excel in their careers, including Francis Obikwelu (Portugal), Gloria Alozie (Spain), Florence Ekpo-Umoh (Germany), Salwa Eid Naser (Bahrain), and Femi Ogunode (Qatar), among others.
