The World Athletics Nationality Review Panel has refused the applications of 11 athletes seeking to transfer their allegiance to Türkiye.
In a statement issued on Thursday, 16 April 2026, the panel listed the athletes, five of whom are Kenyans.
They include former world marathon record holder for women in a mixed-sex race, Brigid Kosgei.
Kosgey set the historic record with a time of 2:14:04 at the 2019 Chicago Marathon, breaking Paula Radcliffe’s 16-year-old mark by 81 seconds.
Other Kenyan athletes whose application to switch nationality has been rejected are Ronald Kwemoi, who finished seventh at the 2019 World Championships in the 1,500m and Nelvin (Can) Jepkemboi.
Athletes whose applications to transfer their allegiance to Türkiye have been rejected
- Catherine Relin (Selin Can) Amanang’ole (KEN)
- Rajindra Campbell (JAM)
- Jaydon Hibbert (JAM)
- Brian Kibor (KEN)
- Brigid Kosgei (KEN)
- Ronald Kwemoi (KEN)
- Nelvin (Can) Jepkemboi (KEN)
- Favour Ofili (NGR)
- Wayne Pinnock (JAM)
- Rojé Stona (JAM)
- Sophia Yakushina (RUS)
Why World Athletics rejected applications to change allegiance to Turkiye
In its decisions, the panel considered that approval of these applications would impinge upon and compromise the imperatives underlying the World Athletics eligibility rules and transfer of allegiance regulations.
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, to facilitate transfers of allegiance and enable those athletes to represent Türkiye at future international competitions, including the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
Given the common features across the applications, the panel assessed them together and determined that such an approach is inconsistent with the core principles of the regulations. These principles are designed to safeguard the credibility of international competition, encourage Member Federations to invest in the development of domestic talent and maintain confidence among athletes that national teams are not primarily assembled through external recruitment.
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.
World Athletics’ transfer of allegiance regulations govern the conditions under which an athlete may represent a Member Federation in international competition. 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.
The Nationality Review Panel is responsible for determining applications relating to athlete eligibility and transfers of allegiance, in accordance with these regulations.
