World Athletics has rejected a request by Nigerian sprinter Favour Ofili to change her nationality to Turkey, dealing a major blow to her planned switch ahead of future international competitions.
The decision was announced by the global athletics body’s Nationality Review Panel, which said the move did not meet its rules.
“The application was part of a recruitment strategy to induce athletes to switch nationality for mercenary reasons,” the panel said.
Ofili, 23, had sought to represent Turkey after falling out with Nigerian athletics authorities.
She was one of 11 athletes included in Turkey’s request to World Athletics.
The panel said such moves could damage the integrity of international competition.
“It undermines the credibility of national representative competitions,” the ruling stated.
Ofili had argued that her decision was driven by frustration with Nigeria’s sports system, citing administrative failures that affected her career.
She missed the Tokyo 2020 Olympics after officials failed to meet drug-testing requirements, and was also left out of an event at the Paris 2024 Games due to a registration error.
The panel acknowledged her concerns but ruled that the wider implications of the transfer were more important.
The decision means Ofili cannot compete for Turkey at major events, including the 2028 Olympics, although she may still take part in club competitions.
However, she still has the option to challenge the ruling at the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
The case highlights ongoing tensions between Nigerian athletes and sports authorities, as well as growing concerns over countries recruiting top talents from abroad.
