• ATHLETICS

• Frank Rotich 4 days ago

World Athletics blocks Brigid Kosgei’s switch to Türkiye

Former marathon world record holder Brigid Kosgei is among 11 top athletes whose plans to switch nationality to Türkiye have been rejected by World Athletics.

The decision, made by the World Athletics Nationality Review Panel, stops Kosgei and others from representing Türkiye in international competitions, despite reports of multi-million offers to change allegiance.

Kosgei, one of Kenya’s most successful long-distance runners, headlines a strong list of athletes affected by the ruling.

Other Kenyan athletes blocked include Ronald Kwemoi, Brian Kibor, and Catherine Relin Amanang’ole. The list also features big names from Jamaica, Nigeria, and Russia.

World Athletics said the applications were part of a wider and coordinated recruitment plan. According to the panel, athletes were being targeted with lucrative deals through a government-backed sports system in Türkiye, with the aim of building a powerful national team for future global events.

The governing body ruled that such a system goes against the spirit of fair competition. It warned that allowing these transfers would weaken the true meaning of national representation in sport.

“The applications were part of a coordinated recruitment strategy aimed at attracting foreign athletes to represent Türkiye in future competitions,” the panel noted in its statement.

The long-term plan was reportedly to boost Türkiye’s chances of winning medals at major events, including the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

Despite the setback, Kosgei and the other athletes can still continue with their careers. They are free to compete in road races, one-day events, and other competitions as individuals or club runners. They can also choose to live and train in Türkiye.

For now, the ruling sends a strong message from World Athletics protecting fairness and integrity in global sport remains a top priority.