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≡ TURKISH TRANSFERS NIXED ≡
“The World Athletics Nationality Review Panel has today refused the applications of 11 athletes seeking to transfer their allegiance to Türkiye.”
Thursday’s stunning announcement ends months of speculation about a team of stars who were reported to file for changes of allegiance in 2025, enough time to allow for the three-year waiting period and still allow for eligibility at the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles. The list of athletes involved includes five Paris 2024 Olympic medalists:
● Catherine Relin (Selin Can) Amanang’ole (KEN)
● Rajindra Campbell (JAM) ~ 2024 Olympic shot put bronze medalist
● Jaydon Hibbert (JAM) ~ 2022 World Junior triple jump champion
● Brian Kibor (KEN)
● Brigid Kosgei (KEN) ~ 2024 Olympic marathon silver medalist
● Ronald Kwemoi (KEN) ~ 2024 Olympic 5,000 m silver medalist
● Nelvin (Can) Jepkemboi (KEN)
● Favour Ofili (NGR) ~ 2022 Commonwealth Games 200 m silver medalist
● Wayne Pinnock (JAM) ~ 2024 Olympic long jump silverr medalist
● Rojé Stona (JAM) ~ 2024 Olympic discus gold medalist
● Sophia Yakushina (RUS)
The statement noted:
● “The panel found that the applications formed part of a coordinated recruitment strategy led by the Türkiye government acting through a wholly-owned and financed government club, to attract overseas athletes through lucrative contracts, with the aim of facilitating transfers of allegiance and enabling those athletes to represent Türkiye at future international competitions, including the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.”
● “As a result of the decisions, the athletes are not eligible to represent Türkiye in national representative competitions or other relevant international events. The panel noted, however, that this does not prevent the athletes from competing in one-day meetings or road races in a personal or club capacity, or from living and training in Türkiye.”
So, these stars are now in limbo as far as competing in the World Championships or Olympic Games.
Under World Athletics eligibility rules, approvals of transfers are also conditional on “the Athlete demonstrating that as at the end of the waiting period:
● “i. they are or will be aged twenty or over; and
● “ii. they are or will be a Citizen of the Country or of the parent Country of the Territory which the Member represents; and
● “iii. they have or will have a genuine, close, credible and established link to that Country or Territory (e.g., through Residence there).”
The statement underscored:
“While citizenship is a starting point, additional criteria are applied to ensure a genuine connection between the athlete and the country they represent and to protect the integrity, credibility and development of the sport globally.”
Last June, the Sportsmax site reported:
“All four athletes are said to be part of a broader initiative driven by Turkish sporting authorities and facilitated by a prominent American sports agent. According to sources, each athlete is set to receive a minimum of US$500,000, along with generous monthly stipends and six-figure bonuses for medals earned at global championships. Reports further suggest that the athletes have agreed to eight-year contracts, effectively committing to Türkiye through the 2032 Olympic cycle.”
An unanswered question now in front of World Athletics is whether sanctions should be applied to the national federation in Turkey.
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