World Athletics blocks 11 athletes from switching to Turkey
World Athletics rejected requests from 11 elite athletes from Kenya, Nigeria and Jamaica to switch their nationality to Turkey. The sport's governing body said the transfers were part of a coordinated government recruitment strategy.
World Athletics has blocked 11 elite runners and field athletes from switching their nationality to Turkey, dealing a major blow to the country's Olympic ambitions.
The athletes from Kenya, Nigeria and Jamaica had applied to compete for Turkey instead of their birth countries. But the World Athletics Nationality Review Panel rejected all 11 requests this week.
The governing body said the transfers "formed part of a coordinated recruitment strategy" by the Turkish government to attract overseas athletes through lucrative financial incentives.
This type of athlete poaching has become more common as countries with oil money or strong economies try to buy their way to Olympic medals. Turkey was apparently targeting top performers who might not make their home country's Olympic teams.
The decision comes as countries prepare for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. Turkey will now have to rely on athletes who were born there or have genuine family connections to the country.
This shows how countries try to buy athletic talent with money instead of developing their own athletes. It could change which countries dominate at the Olympics and other major competitions if athletes keep switching teams for cash.
More athlete transfer decisions expected as the 2028 Olympics approach.
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