World Athletics rejects 11 athlete transfer requests to Turkey

Turkish Government’s Allegiance Transfer Requests Rejected by World Athletics

A total of 15 international athletes, including those from Kenya, Nigeria, Jamaica, and Russia, have had their allegiance transfer requests denied by the World Athletics Nationality Review Panel. The panel cited concerns over a “coordinated recruitment strategy” by the Turkish government to attract overseas athletes with lucrative contracts.

The rejected applications included five Kenyan athletes, including Brigid Kosgei, a former women’s marathon world record holder, and four Jamaican athletes, including Roje Stona, an Olympic discus gold medallist. Nigerian sprinter Favour Ofili and Russian heptathlete Sophia Yakushina were also among those who had their requests denied.

According to World Athletics, the panel found that the applications formed part of a coordinated recruitment strategy aimed at attracting overseas athletes through lucrative contracts in order to facilitate transfers of allegiance and enable them to represent Turkey at future international competitions. The organization’s transfer of allegiance regulations aim to ensure a genuine connection between an athlete and the country they represent, as well as protect the integrity and credibility of the sport globally.

The World Athletics Nationality Review Panel has previously tightened its rules on allegiance transfers in 2019, citing concerns that some cases were akin to human trafficking. The Turkish national team at the 2016 European Championships featured a number of athletes from other countries, including Kenya and Jamaica.

Source: Al Jazeera