Mon, June 23, 2025
Jamaican and Nigerian Olympians to compete for Turkey amid national frustrations and lucrative deals
Roje Stona, who won gold in the discus at the 2024 Paris Games, and Rajindra Campbell, who achieved bronze in the shot put during the Paris Games, are reportedly set to switch their allegiance to Turkey for half a million pounds. Nigerian Olympic sprinter Favour Ofili, among several others, will also make this switch following frustrations with Nigerian athletics authorities.
Stona and Campbell will each acquire $500,000 signing bonuses and monthly financial support from the Turkish Athletic Federation, according to ESPN. Stona broke the Olympic record during the Paris Games and claimed Jamaica’s first-ever medal in the discus at the Olympics, so he is a particularly big loss for Jamaica and a big gain for Turkey.
Other Jamaican athletes have changed nationalities in the past as well. Sprinters Jak Ali Harvey and Emre Zafer Barnes also switched in 2015 to represent Turkey instead.
Additionally, Nigerian Olympic sprinter Favour Ofili is also switching her nationality to Turkey due to perpetual frustrations with the Nigerian athletics authorities.
In response, the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) voiced: “We have not been informed of any change in nationality, either by the athlete or the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU)…
All we have heard so far as a federation is a rumour by journalists. Just like every other sports-loving person in Nigeria, on the continent and beyond, I and the newly elected board read and heard her desire to change nationality from the media. If this is true, it is sad, disheartening and painful.”
However, many argue that Ofili’s switch should have been expected considering that she was one of 14 athletes prohibited from competing at the Tokyo 2020 Olympics due to the failure of the AFN and Nigeria Olympic Committee (NOC) to complete compulsory pre-Games drug testing for US-based athletes.
On top of this, four years later, the AFN and NOC forgot to enter Ofili’s name for the women’s 100m at the 2024 Paris Games even though she qualified.
Ofili conveyed her frustrations on social media: “Please remember, in the last Olympic Games I was not able to compete because AFN, Nigeria’s National Anti-Doping Committee (NADC) and NOC failed to release funds for athletes in the USA to be tested, which made 14 Nigerian athletes that qualified not to compete….
Now THIS... If those responsible are NOT held accountable for taking this opportunity from me, neither organisation can ever be trusted in the future! Next one is the 200 meters. I hope I am entered.”
Furthermore, despite Ofili’s distress, the oversight which meant she was unable to compete in the 100m was not investigated.
World Athletics states that athletes who switch nationalities must wait three years before becoming eligible to compete for their new country at international competitions. Therefore, Ofili will be eligible to represent Turkey at the 2028 Los Angeles Games as she has reportedly officially made the switch, according to ESPN.
The AFN later voiced: “Lots of Athletics Federation of Nigeria officials are heartbroken about the matter, but they will not oppose Ofili's wish to change her colours.”
