Türkiye Athletics Federation has confirmed plans to challenge World Athletics after the body refused to approve Nigerian sprinter Favour Ofili’s request to switch allegiance, with the dispute set to be taken to the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
The development comes in the wake of Thursday’s decision by the World Athletics Nationality Review Panel, which rejected an application from the Türkiye Athletics Federation to change Ofili’s sporting nationality from Nigeria to Turkey.
The panel cited concerns relating to fair competition and the ethics of athlete recruitment.
Jamaican journalist Kayon Raynor revealed that Turkish officials are already moving forward with an appeal.
“Turkey will be appealing the decision by World Athletics to turn down the transfer of allegiance applications of 11 athletes, and they will also take the appeal to the Court of Arbitration for Sports, CAS,” Raynor wrote on X.
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In its findings, the World Athletics panel stated that Ofili’s request formed part of a broader, organised effort involving 11 athletes from different countries rather than a standalone case.
Among those affected were Kenyan runners Brigid Kosgei, Brian Kibor, Ronald Kwemoi, Nelvin Jepkemboi and Catherine Relin Amanang’ole; Jamaican athletes Jaydon Hibbert, Rajindra Campbell, Wayne Pinnock and Rojé Stona; as well as Russian competitor Sophia Yakushina.
All the applications were rejected after the panel concluded that the initiative, reportedly supported by the Turkish government, was aimed at attracting top international athletes through lucrative offers to strengthen its squad ahead of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
According to the panel, such an approach threatens fundamental values in athletics, including the authenticity of national representation and the responsibility of countries to develop their own talent.
It also cautioned that approving such transfers could encourage athletes to change nationality primarily for financial gain rather than genuine national connections.
“The Application by the TAF for Favour OFILI (the ‘Athlete’) to transfer allegiance from NGR to TUR is not approved,” the panel stated.
As a result of the ruling, Ofili and the other athletes involved cannot represent Turkey at major global competitions such as the Olympics or World Championships, though they are still eligible to compete in one-day meets and club events.
Following the decision, the Athletics Federation of Nigeria moved swiftly to welcome Ofili back. Its president, Tonobok Okowa, urged unity and backing for the sprinter, stressing the importance of creating the right conditions for her progress and noting that what she needs most is “love, support, encouragement and more love.”
Former AFN president Solomon Ogba also supported the ruling, commending Sebastian Coe and describing the outcome as a win for fairness in global athletics.
He said, “I want to specially thank the president of World Athletics, Sebastian Coe, a true friend of developing countries, members of the panel and the World Athletics family for standing with the truth.”
Ogba further criticised the trend of wealthier nations recruiting athletes trained elsewhere, arguing that it undermines grassroots development efforts. He said it was unjust for a country to invest years in nurturing an athlete only for another nation to “come with bags full of money and snatch the athlete.”
The matter is now expected to proceed to CAS, where Turkey will attempt to overturn the decision in a case that could have significant implications for how nationality transfers are regulated in athletics.
