World Athletics deny Favour Ofili’s switch to Turkey

World Athletics has turned down an application from Turkey to change the sporting allegiance of Nigerian sprinter Favour Ofili, delivering a setback to her intended nationality switch ahead of the 2028 Olympic Games.

According to a document obtained on Thursday by TheLeader, the Nationality Review Panel of World Athletics ruled that the request submitted by the Türkiye Athletics Federation would not be approved after examining the details surrounding the case.

The panel, made up of Donna Raynor, Cydonie Motherskill and Susanne van Waert, said approving the move would conflict with core regulations guiding fairness and integrity in global athletics.

“The Application by the TAF for Favour OFILI (the ‘Athlete’) to transfer allegiance from NGR to TUR is not approved,” the panel stated.

World Athletics said the request formed part of a broader recruitment drive involving multiple foreign athletes, raising concerns about the credibility of national representation in international competitions.

According to the ruling, Turkey reportedly submitted 11 similar applications as part of a state-backed effort to strengthen its medal prospects ahead of the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.

The panel noted that such moves could undermine the principle of countries developing their own athletes, while encouraging nationality changes based mainly on financial incentives or competitive advantage.

Although the panel considered Ofili’s complaints against Nigerian athletics authorities, it ruled that those concerns were not enough to override wider regulatory principles.

The document noted that Ofili last represented Nigeria at the Paris 2024 Olympics, had since obtained Turkish citizenship, signed a long-term contract, and planned to relocate, but those steps were still insufficient under current eligibility rules.

As a result of the decision, Ofili remains ineligible to represent Turkey in official national competitions.

However, the ruling clarified that she can still compete in international meets in a personal or club capacity and may continue to train or reside in Turkey if she wishes.

Ofili had announced plans to switch allegiance in September 2025, citing dissatisfaction with how Nigerian sports authorities handled her career.

The 23-year-old remains one of Nigeria’s leading sprinters and set a world record in the 150 metres in 2025.