World Athletics has rejected Turkey’s bid to change the allegiance of Nigerian sprinter Favour Ofili, throwing a major setback to the athlete’s requested nationality shift ahead of the 2028 Olympic Games.
The decision was detailed in a document obtained by Chronicle NG on Thursday.
According to the paper, the World Athletics Nationality Review Panel determined that the Türkiye Athletics Federation’s application would not be allowed after considering the facts surrounding the request.
The panel, which included Donna Raynor, Cydonie Motherskill, and Susanne van Waert, said granting the motion would undermine important regulatory principles governing international athletics.
It observed that the application was part of a larger recruitment push involving many athletes and expressed concerns about its impact on the integrity of global events.
It further stated that the tribunal considered representations from all stakeholders, including the athlete and the Turkish federation, before reaching its decision.
“The application by the TAF for Favour Ofili (the ‘athlete‘) to transfer allegiance from NGR to TUR is not approved,” the World Athletics panel stated.
World Athletics further stated that under its eligibility guidelines, it reserves the option to reject nationality changes where broader institutional objectives are jeopardized.
The panel found that accepting the change would jeopardize those goals, particularly those aimed at promoting fair competition and encouraging countries to cultivate domestic talent.
They also stated that Turkey’s proposal was one of 11 submitted as part of a government-backed recruitment effort aimed at providing lucrative contracts to foreign athletes in order to boost the country’s worldwide competitiveness ahead of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
According to the panel’s findings, such a method risks undermining the credibility of national representation by pushing athletes to switch allegiance for financial or competitive reasons rather than real national bonds.
They also stated that Turkey’s proposal was one of 11 submitted as part of a government-backed recruitment effort aimed at providing lucrative contracts to foreign athletes in order to boost the country’s worldwide competitiveness ahead of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
According to the panel’s findings, such a method risks undermining the credibility of national representation by pushing athletes to switch allegiance for financial or competitive reasons rather than real national bonds.
The document added, “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.”
However, the court stressed that Ofili is still allowed to compete in international meets as an individual or with her club, and she can continue to live and train in Turkey if she so desires.
Ofili had stated her intention to transfer allegiance in September 2025, expressing frustration with the way Nigerian athletics authorities handled her career.
The 23-year-old is one of Nigeria’s best sprinters, having set a world record in the 150 meters in 2025.
