Harsh criticism is flooding Jamaican social media feeds from all directions. After two Jamaican track and field pros decided to suddenly switch allegiance to Turkey, the nation was left shocked. Why did they do so? Well, the two have allegedly accepted US$ 500,000 signing bonuses, plus lofty promises like six-figure incentives for podium finishes at major champs in the future. But is there more to the picture? Well, a top official just broke his silence with a bold answer…

On June 19, Jamaican Athletics was shocked after the news of Olympic medalists Roje Stona and Rajindra Campbell switching their allegiance to Turkey broke. This has sent ripples across the track and field community because the two were elite stars. Roje Stona just won an Olympic discus gold in Paris, becoming the first Jamaican to win an Olympic gold in a field event. Whereas, Campbell was in the limelight too, after his Paris bronze in the men’s shot put event. But now, the two will be donning the red and white colors. And here’s what a Turkish official has to say about it.

On June 20, a Consultant with the Turkish Sports Ministry, Onder Ozbilen, spoke to TVJ News, issuing a response after the switch of the Jamaican track and field athletes. Ozbilen said, “We want role models, you understand.” Per him, both Stona and Campbell would be well-suited to this need. But, on the other hand, he warned Jamaicans not to consider this as a viable path always. “For example, this is my declaration to Jamaican community. In the coming 10-12 years, Turkey will not nationalize any throwers from Jamaica. So they shouldn’t see it like an open way,” he said.

However, Ozbilen sounded very positive about how both these athletes would add value to the current state of track and field in Turkey, “Because we have Roje, we have Rajendra, they are our role models. Now we must build a project on them.” The future plan would be, “They must be the ambassadors in Turkey after they stop sport also, for children to love and correct people to come to our disciplines.” Clearly, the idea is for these two athletes to play an integral role in uplifting athletics in Turkey to newer heights. 

Meanwhile, the Turkish consultant also opined on what the real problem was with these two athletes earlier. Ozbilen said, “The problem is not Turkey to take two throwers from Jamaica….Problem is throwers are not earning money. This is the problem.” Well, this seems like nothing but the bare truth. Making money in field sports isn’t the easiest. But that’s not all. Surprisingly, both Stona and Campbell had dropped hints previously, citing reasons why Jamaican track and field might not be the ideal place for a field athlete to be. Money was, of course, one of them.

The athletes had hinted at the lack in Jamaican track and field

Back in 2024, Rajindra Campbell had voiced that it’s hard to make a living as a field athlete in Jamaica. He’d said, “In Jamaican track and field, it’s sprinters who are the real focus of attention. At the start of my career, I was just someone who made up the numbers on the team. That meant there’s not a lot of money for me to pursue my sport.” Just imagine, he was an unsponsored athlete despite winning the Jamaican national champs in 2023.

In fact, till recently, Stona’s name did not show up in the list of athletes competing at the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) scheduled for June 26-29. This itself was a very big hint that not everything was fine. So is it time for Jamaican track and field to buckle up? Or will they see more of such blows in the coming times?