The track and field community was left stunned by the latest development—one that echoed the events of 2015, when Jamaican sprinters Jak Ali Harvey and Emre Zafer Barnes transferred their allegiance to Turkey. But for many, this time the news hits even harder. Why? Because it involves two athletes who recently brought pride and glory to Jamaica at the Paris Olympics. Roje Stona made history by capturing Jamaica’s first-ever Olympic gold medal in a field event with his discus throw triumph. Meanwhile, Rajindra Campbell earned widespread praise after securing a bronze medal in the men’s shot put. Now, in a surprising twist, both athletes have officially switched allegiance—and an American track and field coach has weighed in with some pointed reflections on the situation.

But before diving into the reactions, it’s important to understand the full context of the story. Reports claim that Roje Stona and Rajindra Campbell accepted signing bonuses of around US$500,000 each, along with enticing offers like six-figure incentives for future podium finishes at major championships. However, Turkish Sports Ministry consultant Onder Ozbilen offered a different perspective in an interview with TVJ News. “We want role models, you understand.” he explained, adding that both Stona and Campbell fit that vision well. Still, he urged Jamaicans not to see this as a recurring opportunity. “For example, this is my declaration to Jamaican community. In the coming 10-12 years, Turkey will not nationalize any throwers from Jamaica,” he said. So, is the situation as straightforward as it seems? Not quite. According to track and field coach Rob, there’s another way to look at all of this.

On June 22, during his YouTube podcast, the coach broke down his perspective on the situation. He focused on the idea of international free agency and the realities of professional contracts in track and field. “You’ve got athletes who are fast who don’t have a pro sponsorship with, like a shoe deal that, you know, pays them out directly. And I guess some people discredit them as not pros just for that one fact,” he pointed out. He noted that some people unfairly dismiss such athletes as not being truly professional because of that lack of endorsement. In his view, Turkey’s recent offers present a viable opportunity for these athletes to bridge that financial gap. “Turkey decided that they were going to put up, as far as I know, about a half a million dollars up front guaranteed for you to transition there and then get opportunities to make more money by winning medals for them,” the track and field coach said. 

During the podcast, Rob also mentioned Nigerian sprinter Favor Ofili, who is reportedly in the process of switching her allegiance to Turkey as well. In Ofili’s case, however, the circumstances are quite different. The former LSU Tigers standout had qualified to compete in the 100m event at the Paris Olympics but missed out—allegedly due to mishandling by the Nigerian Athletics Federation. Now, with Turkey offering a more stable and supportive environment, she may find greater opportunities ahead.

However, Coach Rob didn’t go much deeper into the topic. He wrapped up his thoughts with a pointed reminder: “If what we’re doing out here is pro track is all focused on worlds and Olympics, then you’re going to have to figure out how to make money from that. Because being a walking billboard, we’ve tried that already. For most athletes, that doesn’t go so well.” But where does the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) stand on the potential switch of two of its top athletes?

The Jamaican track and field body has been cautious on the matter 

Not just Roje Stona and Rajindra Campbell—rumors are now swirling that Wayne Pinnock, Olympic and World Championship silver medalist in long jump, might also be eyeing a switch of allegiance to Turkey.

In response to the growing speculation, the Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) released a statement addressing the situation head-on. The organization has acknowledged the media reports, but made one thing clear: no official request for a transfer has been made. “The transfer of allegiance of athletes is a process that involves the requisite national federations and requires the approval of World Athletics,” the JAAA emphasized.

And while the speculation builds, the governing body isn’t rushing to conclusions. “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 read. Additionally. The release confirmed that the JAAA “will continue to be guided by the World Athletics Transfer of Allegiance Regulations and will engage with the requisite processes.” So, for now, it’s a waiting game—but all eyes are on what’s next for Jamaica’s elite track and field talent.