KINGSTON, Jamaica — World Athletics President Sebastian Coe has confirmed the organization’s national review panel is actively examining concerns regarding athlete allegiance transfers, specifically addressing Jamaica’s formal complaints about wealthier nations recruiting their elite competitors. The announcement comes amid revelations that several prominent Jamaican field athletes are seeking to represent Turkey at the 2028 Olympic Games.
During a press conference hosted by the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) on Wednesday, Coe detailed the established evaluation process implemented in 2018. “I completely altered the process, creating a national review panel that assesses whether transfer applications lack genuine foundation or reflect legitimate circumstances within our global landscape,” Coe stated. “We now maintain a very clear and formal procedure. The specific concerns raised locally are currently under the panel’s purview.”
The athletics president acknowledged his fundamental position that athletes should ideally complete their careers representing the same nation they started with, while recognizing that exceptional circumstances occasionally justify transfers. “I have consistently maintained that the starting proposition should be that an athlete who begins their career wearing a national vest should essentially finish wearing that same vest,” Coe elaborated. “However, I understand that occasionally exceptional situations arise, reflecting the complex nature of our contemporary world.”
The issue gained urgency following confirmation that Olympic discus throw champion Roje Stona, long jump silver medalist Wayne Pinnock, shot put bronze medalist Rajindra Campbell, and triple jumper Jaydon Hibbert are all pursuing eligibility to compete for Turkey in the upcoming 2028 Games. This development has sparked intense discussion within international athletics circles regarding competitive balance and athlete recruitment practices.