There’s growing turmoil in Jamaican track and field. Four of the country’s top athletes have begun the process of switching allegiance from Jamaica to Turkey—a move that has stunned fans and raised serious questions. Roje Stona and Rajindra Campbell were the first to start this process, followed by Olympic silver medalist Wayne Pinnock and NCAA Triple Jump Champion Jaydon Hibbert. But as much as this might be a decision to advance in their careers, for many Jamaicans, this development feels like a betrayal. In the midst of the backlash, one of them finally broke the silence. Hear it from him directly…

“Yeah, so there’s a lot of misinformation out there. A lot of it,” said Rajindra Campbell as he appeared on a call with Coach’s Desk TV on June 23, “I believe that someone mentioned that there should be a transfer fee for athletes. I disagree with it because at the end of the day, the money doesn’t go back to the athletes.” A report by Reuters claimed that The Trinidad & Tobago Guardian stated both athletes (Rajindra Campbell and Roje Stona) are reported to receive a $500,000 signing bonus to make the switch, as well as monthly financial support. The man further clarified that every time they won a medal, the money went to the organization namely JAAA.

Further into the call, the former Jamaican athlete addressed people’s outrage over this. Traitors – this is the kind of language the track and field community has reacted to, referring to athletes who are shifting their allegiance. He clarified, “They fail to understand that in 2023, I had an offer to leave. I decided I was a Patriot, and I stayed. Later turned around and bit me big time. So it’s like, it’s not a situation where I didn’t try. I tried.” He said that he called and emailed, to no avail. The Olympian even spoke about an Adidas contract.

Adidas reportedly proposed an 8‑year sponsorship deal for US$38.8 million in cash and products (equating to about $4.85 million per year)—including cash retainer, gear, licensing, royalties, and medal bonuses. The package included financial bonuses tied to medal achievements at global championships, digital rights, facility funding, and royalties from “JAAA-branded” merchandise. Citing all that the Jamaican track and field athlete called it a contract, “that made track and field Jamaica a hundred times better than where we are now.” Why was it refused?

Rajindra Campbell believes, “There were bonuses that benefit the athlete, not the Federation. There were certain things I wouldn’t have control over because it would be directed to the athlete based on my understanding. And they went against that. So in my eyes, they don’t care about us. Somebody decides it’s time to start the year with the mindset that this year I’m doing it for me.” He also tackled the rumors of him getting funding from JAAA. He told of getting 500 something dollars back in February when he was in Madrid after his request in May 2024, and then nothing.

At the very end of the call, the man did say, “So I understand there are a lot of Jamaicans that is hurt by it. And I must apologize. But at the same time. You have to think about you. If they are benefit from it, why shouldn’t I?” But why Turkey, after all? 

Why are the track and field athletes choosing Turkey?

All reports imply that Turkey has launched an aggressive campaign to recruit elite Jamaican athletes by offering massive financial packages. Each athlete is reportedly being offered at least $500,000 upfront, plus monthly stipends and six‑figure performance bonuses, under contracts extending up to eight years, spanning through the 2032 Olympics. In an interesting event, JAAA knows nothing of this. In a statement issued on Friday, they said they have yet to receive any official requests for the transfer of allegiance for any Jamaican athletes.

“The transfer of allegiance of athletes is a process that involves the requisite national federations and requires the approval of World Athletics. The JAAA wishes to inform the public that, to date, it has neither been notified nor received a request for the transfer of allegiance of any of our Jamaican athletes, whether those mentioned in the referenced media reports or any others,” the statement said. But in another turn of events, World Athletics has been informed.

World Athletics has received four pending applications from Jamaican athletes to transfer allegiance to Turkey. According to reports from TVJ Sports, the applications have neither been reviewed yet of approved by the National Review Panel. “The NRP will review these applications through the standard procedures over the next few months, during which the athletes may not compete for any federation, and reach its decision,” World Athletics said.

“It should be noted that should the applications be successful, there is a standard three-year waiting period before an athlete can represent their new member federation,” they added. To meet World Athletics’ three‑year waiting rule for the 2028 Paris–LA cycle, athletes are racing to complete Turkish citizenship and residency by the end of June 2025, a move that would make them eligible in time for the Los Angeles Games.  What are your thoughts on this?