Nigerian sprint sensation Favour Ofili has been dealt a major setback after World Athletics officially rejected her application to switch national allegiance to Turkey.
The 23-year-old was among 11 foreign athletes whose requests were turned down by the governing body’s Nationality Review Panel, which raised serious concerns about the motive behind the applications.
According to World Athletics, the move was part of a broader recruitment strategy by the Turkish Athletics Federation aimed at attracting foreign talent — a development the body believes could threaten the integrity of international athletics.
In its statement, World Athletics made it clear that approving such transfers would undermine the sport’s core principles, particularly the emphasis on developing homegrown athletes rather than relying on imported talent.
Ofili had initiated the switch in 2025 following her public outcry against the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, accusing them of repeated administrative failures that negatively impacted her career.
Her frustrations stem from painful past experiences, including missing the Tokyo 2020 Olympics after Nigeria failed to meet mandatory drug testing requirements on her behalf.
In a similar situation, she was also ruled out of the 100m event at the Paris 2024 Olympics due to another administrative error, where her name was not submitted in time.
These repeated setbacks had fueled her decision to seek a fresh start under a different national system, making the rejection even more significant for her career trajectory.
While the decision shuts the door on her immediate plans to compete for Turkey, it also raises fresh questions about her future and relationship with Nigerian athletics authorities.
For now, Ofili remains tied to Nigeria — but the tension between athletes‘ ambitions and administrative structures is once again in the spotlight.
