The Jamaica Athletics Administrative Association (JAAA) has finally vowed to address the matter of country switch directly this week. According to the board, no formal request for a transfer has been submitted. “The transfer of allegiance of athletes is a process that involves the requisite national federations and requires the approval of World Athletics,” the JAAA clarified. This raises a pressing question: Are Roje Stona and Rajindra Campbell truly planning to switch to Turkey? Will the organization take any decisive action at the last moment to prevent it? And with Wayne Pinnock potentially eyeing a similar move, is there any real strategy in place to halt the growing trend of athletes changing national affiliation? There just might be—and it could even introduce the kind of support and resources that Jamaican greats like Usain Bolt and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce never had during their careers.

On June 24, Jamaican sports journalist Kaynor Raynor shared a video excerpt from a speech by Minister Olivia Grange. In her address, the Jamaican Minister of Sports assured that support would be extended to athletes. She stated, “We will look at how we can expand partnerships with the private sector to provide financial incentives and sponsorship opportunities.” So, what form will this support ultimately take?

In her speech, Grange outlined several key initiatives, including upgrading training and recovery facilities to align with global standards and providing support for athletes as they transition into post-competition careers through long-term planning services. Additionally, she announced that the government will boost incentives tied to representing the nation, especially for athletes delivering top-tier performances. However, such a huge effort is bound to need some external support as well. 

Addressing the issue, Olivia Grange confirmed that both financial and health support for athletes will be provided through collaborations with the private sector. She emphasized that her ministry is committed to ensuring all areas of Jamaican sports receive the necessary backing. To achieve this, the ministry plans to “strengthen partnerships with sporting federations,” describing the initiative as a commitment to athlete development “from start to finish.” Still, one question remains: will these efforts be enough to resolve the current situation?

Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce feels devastated seeing the situation 

The issue of athletes switching allegiance has deep roots in Jamaican sports, tracing back to the era dominated by icons like Usain Bolt and Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce. It first became apparent in 2015 when sprinters Jak Ali Harvey and Emre Zafer Barnes changed their allegiance to Turkey, reportedly due to limited support and slim chances of securing a spot on Jamaica’s final team. Today, that list continues to grow, with Roje Stona, Rajindra Campbell, Wayne Pinnock, and Jaydon Hibbert all rumored to be considering a move to Turkey, lured by lucrative offers, including bonuses of around US$500,000 and six-figure payouts for medal finishes at major global events.

But the issue isn’t confined to elite levels. A lack of foundational support has also been felt at the grassroots, something Shelly-Ann Fraser-Pryce has openly criticized in the past. On June 23, at a Nike-hosted cocktail reception in Kingston held in her honor, the three-time Olympic gold medallist introduced an initiative aimed at ending barefoot running among Jamaica’s primary school athletes. “There is absolutely no way we should still have kids running barefooted in this country,” she firmly added. “Not the Jamaica of world-class sprinters and athletes.” She pledged to ensure that every primary school child competing at the National Stadium would do so with proper footwear.

Overall, the ongoing trend of athletes switching national allegiance is a symptom of deeper systemic issues—ranging from elite-level incentives to basic youth development. As legends like Fraser-Pryce step in to address long-standing problems and the government pledges renewed support, only time will tell if these measures are enough to reverse the growing wave of athlete migration.