Favour Ofili nationality switch rejected as World Athletics blocks Nigerian sprinter’s attempt to represent Turkey at the 2028 Olympics

World Athletics on Thursday rejected an application by Nigerian sprinter Favour Ofili to switch her international allegiance to Turkey, in a decision that halts her immediate hopes of representing the European nation at the 2028 Olympic Games.

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The ruling was issued by the World Athletics Nationality Review Panel following a review of the request submitted by the Türkiye Athletics Federation, which sought approval for the athlete’s transfer of allegiance from Nigeria to Turkey.

In its decision, the panel stated that the application could not be approved after examining the circumstances surrounding the request, adding that granting such approval would undermine key regulatory principles governing international athletics eligibility.

The decision represents a significant setback for Favour Ofili, who had been aiming to compete under the Turkish flag at future global competitions, including the 2028 Olympics.

“The application by the TAF for Favour Ofili to transfer allegiance from NGR to TUR is not approved,” the panel stated in its ruling.

The committee responsible for the decision included Donna Raynor, Cydonie Mothersill and Susanne van Waart, who serve on the World Athletics Nationality Review Panel.

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The rejection leaves Ofili’s international future unchanged for now, with the Nigerian sprinter still officially tied to her country of birth as the governing body maintains strict eligibility controls on nationality transfers in athletics.