The president of World Athletics, Sebastian Coe, has reaffirmed his commitment to maintaining strict rules on athletes switching national allegiance, stressing the importance of preserving the integrity of international competitions.
Speaking ahead of the World Athletics Relays in Botswana, Coe said the governing body would continue to scrutinize requests from athletes seeking to represent new countries. His comments follow the decision to block a move involving several high profile athletes, including Jamaican Olympic discus champion Roje Stona and Kenyan marathon star Brigid Kosgei.
The athletes were reportedly targeted with attractive financial offers to switch allegiance to Turkey in a bid to strengthen the country’s medal prospects for the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics. However, Coe made it clear that such motivations do not meet the criteria for approval.
According to him, athletes are expected to represent the countries where they began their careers, as this ensures that global championships remain meaningful and rooted in national identity. While acknowledging that exceptions may be granted in cases such as marriage or political issues, he emphasized that financial incentives alone are not sufficient grounds.
Coe warned that allowing unrestricted nationality ces could undermine government investment in sports development, as countries may become reluctant to fund athletes who later compete for other nations.
Meanwhile, Botswana’s sprint star Letsile Tebogo has also drawn attention after revealing he rejected offers to switch allegiance to countries including Qatar, the United Arab Emirates, and Tunisia. Despite economic challenges linked to fluctuations in the global diamond market, Botswana continues to invest in athletics and develop homegrown talent.
Coe’s stance signals a continued effort by World Athletics to protect fairness and national representation in the sport, particularly as competition intensifies ahead of future global events.
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