THE rejection of Nigerian sprinter Favour Ofili’s bid to switch allegiance to Turkey has not only halted her plans to compete under a new flag but has also prompted Nigerian sports authorities to embrace her return, even as World Athletics raised concerns over the integrity of international athlete transfers.
News Point Nigeria Sport reports that the World Athletics, through its Nationality Review Panel, rejected an application by the Turkish Athletics Federation (TAF) to secure a transfer of allegiance for the 23-year-old athlete, effectively ruling her ineligible to represent Turkey in major international competitions, including the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games.
The decision, disclosed on Thursday and made available to the public, followed a detailed review process which scrutinised the circumstances surrounding the application.
Ofili, a Delta State-born sprinter who last represented Nigeria at the Paris 2024 Olympics, had earlier been granted Turkish citizenship in May 2025 as part of her attempt to change nationality.
According to the panel’s report, the application formed part of a broader government-backed recruitment drive by Turkey aimed at attracting overseas athletes with lucrative incentives.
“The eleven applications form part of a recruitment strategy led by the Türkiye government to recruit overseas talent by offering lucrative club-level contracts with the objective of inducing transfers of allegiance and ensuring the athletes become eligible to represent Turkey at the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic Games,” the decision stated.
The sprinter had argued that her decision to switch allegiance was driven by disputes with the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), which she accused of failing her at two Olympic Games, as well as concerns about her personal safety.
However, despite these claims, the panel concluded that Ofili’s connection to Turkey did not meet the required threshold.
“There was no evidence of pre-application connection to Türkiye, and there are limited credible indications that there will be continuous residence and day-to-day integration in Türkiye in the future,” the ruling explained.
The panel also expressed concern that the recruitment model adopted by Turkey could undermine the development pathways of domestic athletes and compromise the integrity of national representation in global competitions.
It emphasised that while Ofili remains free to live, train, and compete at the club level in Turkey, she cannot represent the country in international competitions.
The ruling is considered final unless appealed, although under Regulation 2.23, Ofili or the Turkish federation may seek reconsideration and, if unsuccessful, escalate the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport within 30 days.
In addition to the nationality decision, World Athletics highlighted its commitment to athlete welfare by initiating safeguarding measures for Ofili, acknowledging the concerns she raised about her experiences.
“The transfer aims to protect her sports career and mental health following disputes with the Nigerian Athletics Federation… and personal safety concerns,” the panel noted.
It assured that her welfare would be independently monitored and supported through safeguarding processes, stressing that athlete protection remains a top priority.
The decision has also had financial implications for the athlete, as it effectively ends the benefits tied to her proposed switch to Turkey.
In May 2025, Ofili had reportedly signed a contract valued at $10,000 per month until 2028, with a subsequent $5,000 monthly arrangement extending to 2032, a deal that would have provided income significantly higher than what is typically available to Nigerian athletes.
Reacting to the development, the Director General of the National Sports Commission (NSC), Bukola Olopade, said the commission is ready to welcome Ofili back despite her earlier attempt to change allegiance.
The rejection of her application was also confirmed by the AFN, reinforcing Nigeria’s continued claim to one of its top sprint talents.
World Athletics, in its broader assessment, criticised the approach adopted by the Turkish Athletics Federation, noting that it involved aggressive recruitment of foreign athletes and encouragement of rapid nationality switches for what it described as largely “mercenary” motives.
Ofili was among 11 athletes included in a batch submission by Turkey seeking eligibility changes, a move that drew scrutiny from the global body.
The organisation warned that such practices threaten the credibility of international competition, weaken national development systems, and risk sidelining homegrown athletes in favour of imported talent.
Ofili, who began pursuing the switch in 2025 after publicly criticising Nigerian officials for alleged mismanagement and hindrance to her career progression, remains one of Nigeria’s most accomplished sprinters.
She currently holds the national women’s 200 metres record at 21.96 seconds and boasts a personal best of 10.78 seconds in the 100 metres, both achieved in 2022, underscoring her status as a key figure in Nigerian athletics.