World Athletics has rejected an application by Turkey to switch the allegiance of Nigerian sprinter Favour Ofili, dealing a major setback to her proposed nationality change ahead of the 2028 Olympic Games.
The decision, contained in a document obtained on Thursday, followed a review by the World Athletics Nationality Review Panel, which ruled that the request submitted by the Türkiye Athletics Federation did not meet approval requirements.
The panel—comprising Donna Raynor, Cydonie Mothersill, and Susanne van Waert—said granting the application would undermine key regulatory principles governing international athletics.
According to the panel, the request formed part of a broader recruitment drive involving multiple athletes, raising concerns about its potential impact on the integrity of global competitions. It added that submissions from all relevant parties, including the athlete and the Turkish federation, were carefully reviewed before a final decision was reached.
“The application by the Türkiye Athletics Federation for Favour Ofili to transfer allegiance from Nigeria to Turkey is not approved,” the panel stated.
World Athletics explained that its eligibility rules grant it discretionary powers to deny nationality switches where broader institutional objectives could be compromised. The panel concluded that approving the request would weaken efforts to ensure fair competition and encourage countries to develop homegrown talent.
It further revealed that Turkey’s bid was one of 11 applications linked to what it described as a government-backed recruitment drive targeting foreign athletes with lucrative offers, aimed at strengthening its competitiveness ahead of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
The panel warned that such strategies could undermine the credibility of national representation by encouraging athletes to switch allegiance primarily for financial or competitive gain rather than genuine national ties.
While acknowledging Ofili’s grievances with Nigerian athletics authorities, the panel said those concerns did not outweigh the wider regulatory implications.
It noted that the 23-year-old last represented Nigeria at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games and has since obtained Turkish citizenship, signed a long-term contract, and indicated plans to relocate. However, these steps were deemed insufficient to justify approval under existing rules.
“As the application is not approved, the athlete is not entitled to transfer allegiance and is not eligible to represent Turkey in national representative competitions,” the document stated.
Despite the ruling, Ofili remains eligible to compete in international events in a personal or club capacity and may continue to live and train in Turkey.
Ofili had announced plans to switch allegiance in September 2025, citing dissatisfaction with how her career was managed in Nigeria. She remains one of the country’s top sprinters and set a world record in the 150m in 2025.
