World Athletics has turned down the request by Nigerian sprint star Favour Ofili to switch her international allegiance to Turkey.
Gatekeepers News reports that decision which brings an end to months of uncertainty over her sporting future, was confirmed on Thursday by the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), following a ruling by the global body’s Nationality Review Panel.
According to the ruling, Ofili who is 23, will remain eligible to compete for Nigeria and cannot represent Turkey at major competitions, including the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.
The rejection is part of a broader decision affecting multiple athletes. World Athletics denied 11 nationality-switch requests linked to Turkey, citing concerns over what it described as a coordinated recruitment strategy aimed at attracting foreign athletes with financial incentives.
The governing body said such moves risk undermining the integrity of international athletics by encouraging nationality changes driven primarily by incentives rather than genuine national ties.
Ofili had sought the switch after a fallout with Nigerian athletics authorities, alleging administrative lapses that affected her career. She previously missed the Tokyo 2020 Olympics due to failures in meeting doping control requirements and was also left out of an event at the Paris 2024 Games because of registration issues.
Reports indicate she began the process of switching allegiance in 2025 after acquiring Turkish citizenship, citing frustration with the Nigerian system and concerns about her career progression.
Following the ruling, AFN welcomed the decision, effectively reinstating Ofili within Nigeria’s athletics fold as she looks ahead to future international competitions.
