Collen Kebinatshipi, Botswana's first World Athletics Championships gold medalist, calls for better support and protection for African athletes after six runners were blocked from transferring their allegiance to Turkey.
Key points
Collen Kebinatshipi won gold in the 400m at the World Athletics Championships.
World Athletics blocked six African runners from transferring to Turkey.
Athletes are switching nationalities for better support and incentives.
This trend contributes to a talent drain in Africa.
Kebinatshipi calls for better protection of African athletes.
Mentioned in this story
World AthleticsBotswanaTurkey
Collen KebinatshipiWorld Athletics Championships
Collen Kebinatshipi shown from waist up wearing a Botswana sky blue sleeveless running jersey with his name written on a bib on the stomach, looks to his right while pointing his right index finger skywards as he prepares to compete in the men's 400m at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo
Collen Kebinatshipi became the first man from Botswana to win gold at the World Athletics Championships after triumphing in the 400m in Tokyo last year [Getty Images]
World 400m champion Collen Kebinatshipi has urged African federations to "protect" their athletes after World Athletics blocked six runners from the continent who wanted to transfer their allegiance to Turkey.
Switching nationality has increasingly become an attractive option for athletes seeking better incentives and structured support.
However, this growing trend has contributed to a talent drain across Africa.
Botswana's Kebinatshipi acknowledged athletes "go through a lot" - particularly in preparing for international competitions - but has urged national governing bodies to offer more support.
"Spending sometimes can be a bit challenging," Kebinatshipi, 22, told BBC Sport Africa.
"I think they [African athletes] are doing that because they want to go where they can cut costs [and] be supported."
Earlier this month five Kenyans, including former women's marathon world record-holder Brigid Kosgei, and Nigeria's Favour Ofili were targeted with what World Athletics, the sport's governing body, described as "lucrative" contract offers from Turkey.
Ofili's situation drew particular attention after the 23-year-old was left off the entry list for the 100m at the 2024 Paris Olympics because of an administrative error by the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN).
Q&A
Why did World Athletics block African runners from transferring to Turkey?
World Athletics blocked the transfer of six African runners to Turkey due to concerns about nationality changes and the implications for athlete representation.
What are the consequences of athletes switching nationalities?
Switching nationalities can lead to a talent drain in Africa, as athletes seek better incentives and support in other countries.
Who is Collen Kebinatshipi and what is his achievement?
Collen Kebinatshipi is the first man from Botswana to win a gold medal at the World Athletics Championships, achieving this in the 400m event.
How can African federations better support their athletes?
African federations can provide more structured support and incentives to retain talent and prevent athletes from seeking nationality changes.
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In response to the World Athletics ruling, the AFN stressed the importance of "unity" and creating the "right environment" for the sprint star to thrive.
"It's just about support from federations keeping up with their status and standards," said Kebinatshipi.
"That can play a big role when it comes to athletes [who] want to switch their citizenship to other countries."
Makwala the role model
Isaac Makwala shown from stomach up wearing a blue and black striped Botswana sleeveless running jersey reacts as he is seen midway through clapping his hands during the men's 400m event at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games
Kebinatshipi says young athletes in Botswana "look up and follow the footsteps" of Isaac Makwala [Getty Images]
Athletes in Botswana may not be considering a change of nationality any time soon, given the country's recent successes on the global stage.
Letsile Tebogo took a stunning 200m gold at Paris 2024 and, alongside Kebinatshipi, Lee Bhekimpilo Eppie and Bayapo Ndori, the sprint star was also part of the team that won 4x400m relay gold at the World Championships in Tokyo last September.
Botswana is the first African nation to achieve that feat, and Kebinatshipi thinks improved results are down to a growth in confidence.
"At first we didn't really believe in ourselves as athletes here in Botswana," he admitted.
"We didn't know what it really means to show up and step on the track and deliver your best."
Botswana's profile will receive a further boost when it hosts the World Relays this weekend - a historic event which will see it become the first African nation to organise a senior World Athletics track competition.
Kebinatshipi credits much of the country's transformation to the influence of compatriot and fellow 400m runner Isaac Makwala, the Commonwealth and Olympic medallist who has inspired a new generation.
"My role model from a young age has been Isaac.
"[He] has also been close to me and guiding me. That's why I had that motivation and belief that I can also do this and be like him.
"He has always been assisting me with training, nutrition. I really appreciate the role he played on my career up until now."
A headshot of Collen Kebinatshipi holding up a gold medal with his left hand as he poses for a photo while wearing the national flag of Botswana draped around his neck after winning the men's 400m final at the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo
Kebinatshipi's gold in Tokyo came two years after he was crowned African 400m champion at Under-20 level [Getty Images]
Raised in a village in south-west Botswana, Kebinatshipi discovered his passion for sport during his school years.
With his athletic potential becoming obvious, he made the difficult choice to put his education on hold after high school - a decision which ultimately brought him the men's 400m world title when he clocked an impressive 43.53 seconds in Tokyo seven months ago.
It made him the first man from Botswana to win gold at the World Championships.
"I don't really like to over-celebrate my achievements," he said modestly.
"My life has changed a lot when it comes to me going shopping. Everyone will come to me taking pictures.
"For me to get in the shop and spend 10 minutes I have to [allow an] extra 30 minutes for pictures."
Gold in Tokyo came after narrowly missing out on the Olympic 400m final in Paris and Kebinatshipi says he has "overachieved early".
"When it comes to the national record and winning gold on global stages, those were chats that were planned for [the] 2028 Olympics," he explained.
"We knew that it [winning in Tokyo] was just a bonus and we should go back to the drawing board and work for what we are aiming for, which is the 2028 Olympics."
'We want to make our people proud'
Gold medallists (from left to right) Lee Bhekempilo Eppie, Letsile Tebogo, Collen Kebinatshipi and Bayapo Ndori of Team Botswana pose for a photo on a rainy running track, holding up two Botswana flags behind themselves after winning the men's 4x400m of the World Athletics Championships in Tokyo. All four are wearing black running shorts and sky blue sleeveless Botswana running vests
Kebinatshipi ran the anchor leg of the 4x400m relay in Tokyo and the team were celebrated in Botswana as President Duma Boko declared a public holiday [Getty Images]
Kebinatshipi has already made a strong start to the new season, clocking 44.55s in his opening 400m race and impressing over 100m at the national championships.
His focus now shifts to the World Relays on home soil.
"We want to make our people here proud. We are aiming to deliver our best.
"We can't get much into aiming for world records or producing fastest times early this season [because] we have a long season ahead.
"We want to come and produce, and that's the only thing that we are aiming for now."
While East African countries such as Kenya and Ethiopia have long dominated middle and long-distance events, there is a noticeable shift with the rise of African sprinters.
Tebogo, Akani Simbine, Ferdinand Omanyala and Marie-Josee Ta Lou-Smith are helping redefine the continent's reputation.
Kebinatshipi thinks this evolution is a "huge improvement" for Africa, pointing to Botswana's broader transformation on the track as an example.
"Africans have been known for long distance events, but now we challenge ourselves in everything," he said.
"That's why we have a big pool of sprinters in Africa."
