Ex-athletes, coaches oppose freezing of athletes’ transfer of allegiance

Athletics enthusiasts yesterday kicked against the freezing of athletes’ transfer of allegiance by the International Association of Athletics Federations (IAAF) on Monday after its 208th Council Meeting.

They said that new rules should be flexible, adding that the athletes had the right to represent the country of their choice.

The IAAF President, Sebastian Coe, had at the meeting said: “It has become abundantly clear with regular multiple transfers of athletes, especially from Africa that the present rules are no longer fit for the purpose.

However, athletics enthusiasts are of the opinion that any athletes who sought after improved career abroad should be allowed to do so.

Tony Osheku, a renowned athletics coach, said he was in support of the IAAF, saying that there were countries that did not have the interest of these athletes at heart.

He said he was optimistic that the council had thought it over before coming to such conclusion.

“I am in support of IAAF because of countries like Bahrain, Qatar that use these athletes; to me they use them like mercenaries because they use them for a while.

“For me, I do not think that it is good for the athletes and nations whose athletes are being naturalised. IAAF is looking out for the athletes’ interest,” he said.

He also added that if an athlete felt cheated in his country and sought greener pastures, such athlete should not be stopped.

“I know that the IAAF is still working on the modalities for the new rule. I feel that if any athlete wants to switch allegiance, such person should be allowed. If they feel that their country is not giving them what they want, they should be allowed to change but there should be rules guiding such,” he said.

Gadzama Tafida, a Sydney 2000 Olympic gold medallist and board member, Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), said athletes should be made to have an alternative if their potential was not utilised by their countries.

“I am against the law; I support athlete’s decision to have an alternative,” he said.

Tafida said the IAAF should work out a modality that would not restrict the athletes from switching their nationality.

Olalekan Soetan, a Hurdles Coach, said that IAAF needed to look for a solution to how most African athletes were treated in their countries. (NAN)