World Athletics has declined the request by Nigerian sprinter Favour Ofili to switch her sporting allegiance from Nigeria to Turkey, citing broader regulatory and competitive concerns.
The global governing body for athletics said the application formed part of a wider recruitment drive involving multiple athletes, raising questions about the potential impact on the integrity of international competitions.
According to the ruling, the review panel considered submissions from all relevant parties, including Ofili herself and the Turkish Athletics Federation, before arriving at 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.
The body further explained that under its eligibility framework, it retains discretionary authority to reject nationality transfers where they conflict with broader institutional objectives, particularly those aimed at safeguarding fair competition and promoting the development of homegrown athletes.
The panel concluded that approving the request would undermine these objectives, especially in cases where national federations actively recruit foreign athletes through structured incentives.
It was noted that Turkey’s application was among 11 similar requests submitted as part of what the panel described as a government-linked recruitment strategy aimed at strengthening its medal prospects ahead of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
Officials warned that such approaches risk weakening the credibility of national representation in athletics by encouraging athletes to switch allegiance primarily for financial gain or competitive advantage rather than genuine national affiliation.
While the panel acknowledged Ofili’s concerns regarding her relationship with Nigerian athletics authorities, it maintained that those grievances did not outweigh the wider regulatory considerations guiding its decision.
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Ofili, who last competed for Nigeria at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games, had reportedly acquired Turkish citizenship, signed a long-term deal, and indicated plans to relocate.
However, the ruling stated that these developments were insufficient to justify approval under existing World Athletics rules.
“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,” the statement added.
Despite the rejection, World Athletics clarified that Ofili remains eligible to compete in international meets in a neutral or club capacity and is free to continue training and residing in Turkey.
The 23-year-old sprinter, one of Nigeria’s leading track talents and a former 150m world record holder set in 2025, had expressed her intention to switch allegiance in September 2025, citing dissatisfaction with her handling by national authorities.