World Athletics Rejects Kenyan Athletes’ Switch To Türkiye
Sports Updated: 16 April 2026 17:44 EAT
World Athletics has rejected all 11 applications submitted by the Türkiye Athletics Federation for athletes seeking to switch allegiance to 🇹🇷 Türkiye ahead of the 2028 Summer Olympics in Los Angele
World Athletics has rejected applications by five Kenyan athletes seeking to switch allegiance to Türkiye, dealing a significant setback to their ambitions of competing internationally under a new flag. The decision, delivered by the governing body’s Nationality Review Panel, is part of a broader crackdown on what officials describe as attempts to bypass strict eligibility rules governing nationality transfers in athletics.
Among those affected is Brigid Kosgei, the former women’s marathon world record holder, whose high-profile bid had drawn global attention. Also impacted is Ronald Kwemoi, a former world 5,000 metres silver medallist, alongside three other Kenyan athletes who had been pursuing the switch in a move linked to Türkiye’s aggressive recruitment of foreign talent.
World Athletics ruled that the applications did not meet the required threshold for nationality change, citing concerns that approving them would undermine the integrity of international competition. The body emphasised that athletes must demonstrate a genuine, long-term connection to a country beyond contractual or financial arrangements, a standard it says was not sufficiently met in the rejected cases.
The applications were part of a wider group of 11 nationality transfer requests involving athletes from several countries, all of which were turned down. According to World Athletics, the pattern suggested a coordinated effort to recruit elite athletes through incentives, raising questions about fairness and the spirit of global competition.
Türkiye has in recent years stepped up efforts to strengthen its athletics squad by targeting top performers from traditional powerhouse nations such as Kenya. The strategy is believed to be aimed at boosting medal prospects in upcoming global events, including future Olympic Games, but has now run into regulatory resistance.
Rules governing athlete transfers were tightened in 2019, with World Athletics introducing stricter conditions to curb what it termed the “commodification” of athletes. These include mandatory waiting periods, proof of citizenship, and evidence of meaningful ties to the adopting country, measures designed to preserve competitive balance.
Despite the rejection, the affected athletes are not barred from all competition. They remain eligible to participate in road races, invitational meets and other non-national representation events, but will not be allowed to compete for Türkiye in official championships such as the Olympics or World Championships.
The decision is likely to spark renewed debate within global athletics over the ethics of nationality switching, particularly in cases where financial incentives appear to play a central role. Critics argue that such moves risk eroding national identity in sport, while supporters maintain that athletes should have the freedom to pursue opportunities globally.
For Kenya, the ruling may come as a relief amid growing concern over the loss of elite talent to other nations. The country has long been a dominant force in distance running, and the potential departure of high-profile athletes has raised questions about retention and support structures.
Observers say the outcome underscores World Athletics’ determination to enforce its regulations strictly, even in cases involving some of the sport’s most prominent figures. The governing body has signalled that it will continue to scrutinise future applications closely to ensure compliance with its rules.
As the affected athletes weigh their next steps, attention is expected to shift to how both Kenya and Türkiye respond, and whether the rejected applications could lead to further legal or administrative challenges within the sport’s global framework.
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FELIX MAKONA
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