World Athletics Blocks Brigid Kosgei and Four Kenyan Stars from Switching to Turkey

The Decision

<cite index="1-2,1-3">World Athletics rejected applications by top Kenyan athletes to represent Türkiye in international competitions on Thursday, blocking former world record holder in women's marathon Brigid Kosgei and former world 5000 metres silver medallist Ronald Kwemoi</cite>, along with three other elite runners from making the switch.

<cite index="4-2,4-9">Besides Kosgei, other Kenyan athletes who had sought to represent Turkey include world half marathon bronze medalist Catherine Reline Amanang'ole, Olympic 5000m silver medalist Ronald Kwemoi, Brian Kibor, and Nelvin Jepkemboi</cite>. For these five athletes, the decision means their hopes of competing in major championships including the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics under a Turkish flag are now extinguished.

<cite index="1-9,2-14">The Nationality Review Panel for World Athletics noted that approving them would run contrary to eligibility rules and transfer of allegiance regulations, concluding that the transfers were part of a coordinated recruitment effort supported by the Turkish government through a state-funded athletics club</cite>. The ruling wasn't limited to Kenyan athletes — <cite index="6-12">the sports governing body's decision also impacts non-Kenyan athletes who had applied to represent Türkiye, including Jamaica's Rajindra Campbell, Jaydon Hibbert, Wayne Pinnock, and Rojé Stona, Nigeria's Favour Ofili, and Russia's Sophia Yakushina</cite>.

Why Athletes Leave Kenya

The attempted mass transfer reflects a long-standing pattern in global athletics. Kenya's depth in distance running is so extraordinary that even world-class athletes struggle to secure spots on national teams. <cite index="8-3,8-15">With fat cheque books and enviable incentives like free scholarships, foreign countries lure away athletes who struggle to even get recognition in national athletics in Kenya</cite>.

For Kosgei, 31, the decision is a significant setback. <cite index="2-17">She is among the leading marathon runners of her era</cite>, having set the women's world record of 2:14:04 at the 2019 Chicago Marathon—a record that stood until 2023 when Ethiopia's Tigst Assefa ran 2:11:53 at the Berlin Marathon. Despite her achievements, the fierce competition in Kenya means even legends face uncertainty about selection for major championships.

<cite index="8-16,8-18">Financial motivation and the tough competition back home feature prominently in athletes' decisions, with one athlete describing how a personal decision was informed by his family's situation at the moment</cite>. According to athletes who have made the switch in the past, the offers often include monthly stipends, housing, scholarships for family members, and guaranteed spots on national teams — luxuries that Kenya's depth of talent makes difficult to promise.

A Long History of Defections

<cite index="2-2,2-3,2-4,2-5,2-6">In past cases, some athletes achieved significant success after transferring: Wilson Kipketer became a Danish citizen and won multiple world titles in the 800 metres, Stephen Cherono, later known as Saif Saaeed Shaheen, represented Qatar and set a world record in the steeplechase, Bahrain has also recruited Kenyan athletes, including Ruth Jebet, who won Olympic gold in 2016, and Winfred Mutile Yavi, who has claimed world and Olympic titles, Norah Jeruto secured a world championship title for Kazakhstan in 2022, while Bernard Lagat went on to win world titles for the United States after his transfer</cite>.

The success of these transfers has created a powerful incentive structure. <cite index="9-10,9-11">Stephen Cherono was reportedly offered a sweet deal including a Ksh112,300 monthly stipend for life just for him to become a Qatari athlete, and he accepted the deal, even changed his name to Saif Saeed Shaheen</cite>. That kind of financial security is nearly impossible for athletes to access in Kenya, where even national champions struggle for sponsorships.

<cite index="6-14">In August 2024, World Athletics announced that Bahrain would not be able to recruit athletes from other countries until 2027, a decision that came in the wake of Kenyan-born Winfred Yavi snatching gold in the 3000m steeplechase for Bahrain at the Paris 2024 Olympic Games</cite>, intensifying concerns about Kenya's talent drain.

What Comes Next

<cite index="2-10,2-11">World Athletics has tightened its rules in recent years to limit nationality changes, arguing that stronger regulation is needed to protect the development of domestic talent and maintain the integrity of international competition</cite>. The governing body is clearly taking a harder line, viewing the coordinated Turkish recruitment drive as a threat to the principles of national representation.

<cite index="4-3,4-4">World Athletics noted that the athletes are free to compete in one-day events or even train in Turkey, with the panel noting that this does not prevent the athletes from competing in one-day meetings or road races in a personal capacity, or from living and training in Türkiye</cite>. This means Kosgei and the others can still earn appearance fees at international road races and marathons — but they cannot compete in World Championships, Olympics, or other major team competitions for Turkey.

For Kenya, the ruling offers temporary relief but doesn't address the underlying issue: the country's extraordinary depth makes it nearly impossible for even world-class athletes to guarantee selection. Until that changes, the offers from abroad will keep coming, and athletes will keep facing the agonizing choice between patriotism and financial security.

Reporting drawn from Daily Nation, Mwakilishi, Capital FM Kenya, Vantage Kenya, FairPlanet, Kenyans.co.ke.