• ATHLETICS

• Frank Rotich 8 hrs ago

World Athletics boss Coe maintains tough stance on nationality switch

World Athletics chief Sebastian Coe has maintained a tough stance on athletes switching nationalities, saying the future of the sport depends on athletes representing the countries where they started their careers.

Speaking during the World Athletics Relays in Gaborone, Botswana, Coe said the world body will not relax its rules, especially in cases where athletes change nationality for money rather than genuine reasons.

“The idea is simple. An athlete should start and finish their career in the same country,” Coe said.

His comments come after World Athletics blocked a group of top athletes from switching allegiance to Turkey ahead of the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

Among those affected was former marathon world record holder Brigid Kosgei, alongside Ronald Kwemoi, Catherine Amanang’ole, Brian Kibor and Nelvin Jepkemboi.

The athletes were reportedly linked to financial offers aimed at boosting Turkey’s chances of winning medals. However, the Nationality Review Panel ruled that the moves were part of a planned recruitment strategy supported by the government and driven by money.

According to the panel, such actions weaken fair competition and slow down the growth of local talent in different countries.

Coe agreed with the findings, saying global competitions must remain true national contests and not turn into events filled with recruited athletes.

“For championships to have meaning, fans must see real national competition,” he added.

While Coe admitted that some nationality changes are valid such as through marriage or political reasons he stressed that switching countries purely for opportunity will not be allowed.

He also warned that frequent nationality changes could hurt the sport in the long run. Governments may stop investing in athletics if their athletes end up competing for other nations.

The debate has grown in recent years as countries look to strengthen their teams through naturalisation. However, not every athlete is willing to make that move.

Botswana’s Olympic champion Letsile Tebogo recently rejected offers from Qatar, the United Arab Emirates and Tunisia, choosing to stay loyal to his home country despite financial incentives.

World Athletics says it will continue to enforce strict rules to protect fairness and maintain the true spirit of international competition.