When the news broke that the Nigerian sprint queen Favour Ofili was considering switching nationality to represent Turkey, it stirred more than headlines. It stirred hearts. While nationality swaps are not new in international sports, the governing rules under World Athletics provide a detailed framework balancing the freedom of the athlete with the integrity of sports. For many Nigerians, Ofili is not just a name on the track—she’s a symbol of promise, never say die spirit and excellence. But behind this proposed switch lies a deeper legal story, and an even deeper human one: the push and pull between personal opportunity and national identity. In this article, we analysed the ‘Transfer of Allegiance Regulations (Book C-C3.4) of the World Athletics approved by Council on 13 July 2022 and took effect from 15 August 2022 (the “Regulations”), the Eligibility Rules of World Athletics (the “Eligibility Rules”), and their interplay with other global sports governance frameworks such as the Olympic Charter. Click here to read more.
