Brigid Kosgei among 5 Kenyan athletes blocked from switching allegiance to Turkey

Former marathon world record holder Brigid Kosgei’s planned switch of allegiance to Turkey has been blocked, dealing a major blow to the European country’s aggressive recruitment drive ahead of the 2028 Olympic Games in Los Angeles.

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Three months after confirming her decision to compete for Turkey, Kosgei is now among a group of high-profile athletes whose transfer applications have been rejected by World Athletics’ Nationality Review Panel.

In its ruling, the panel said approving the applications would “impinge upon and compromise” the core principles underpinning the sport’s eligibility and transfer of allegiance regulations.

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The panel found that the cases were not isolated but formed part of a coordinated recruitment strategy led by the Turkish government, acting through a state-backed club, to attract top international athletes with lucrative financial packages.

The aim, according to the findings, was to fast-track nationality switches and bolster Turkey’s medal prospects at major events, including the Los Angeles 2028 Olympics.

Kosgei is among five Kenyan athletes affected by the decision. Others whose moves have been blocked include Ronald Kwemoi, Catherine Relin Amanang’ole, Brian Kibor, and Nelvin Jepkemboi—names that underline the depth of talent Kenya risked losing.

The list of rejected applications also features several global stars, including Jamaican Olympic medallists Rajindra Campbell, Rojé Stona, Jaydon Hibbert, and Wayne Pinnock, Nigerian sprinter Favour Ofili, and Russia’s Sophia Yakushina.

Given the similarities across the applications, the panel assessed them collectively and concluded that the approach was inconsistent with the regulations designed to protect the integrity of international athletics.

“These principles are intended to safeguard the credibility of international competition, encourage Member Federations to invest in domestic talent and maintain confidence among athletes that national teams are not primarily assembled through external recruitment,” the panel noted.

As a result of the decision, the athletes will not be eligible to represent Turkey in international championships or national team competitions.

However, the ruling does not bar them from competing in one-day meetings or road races under personal or club representation, nor does it restrict them from residing or training in Turkey.

World Athletics regulations require more than just citizenship for an athlete to represent a country, placing emphasis on a genuine connection to the nation and the broader goal of preserving fairness and global development of the sport.

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Kosgei’s blocked move marks a significant twist in what had appeared to be one of the most high-profile nationality switches in recent years.

The 31-year-old, who set the marathon world record of 2:14:04 at the Chicago Marathon in 2019, remains one of Kenya’s most decorated distance runners, with multiple major marathon titles and an Olympic silver medal to her name.