Olympic Medallists Roje Stona and Rajindra Campbell Reportedly Switch Allegiances to Turkey

According to reports, Jamaican Olympic medallists Roje Stona and Rajindra Campbell will no longer compete for Jamaica, as Turkey offers $500,000 upfront to boost its 2028 medal hopes

L-R: Rajindra Campbel and Roje Stona, no longer represent Jamaica

Olympic medallists Roje Stona and Rajindra Campbell will no longer compete for Jamaica, having applied to switch their sporting allegiance to Turkey.

The revelation, first reported by SportsMax, comes amid a broader push by Turkey to boost its Olympic medal prospects by naturalising elite international athletes. Sources say several Jamaican athletes have been quietly approached in recent weeks.

According to Onder Ozbilen, a consultant with Turkey’s Sports Ministry, both Roje Stona and Rajindra Campbell are part of an urgent recruitment drive, with a deadline to obtain Turkish citizenship and residency by the end of this month in order to meet World Athletics’ three-year eligibility rule for the 2028 Olympic Games.

The move makes both athletes ineligible to represent Jamaica at global competitions for the next three years, including the upcoming World Athletics Championships in Tokyo and the 2028 Olympics in Los Angeles.

Each athlete is reportedly being offered a minimum of US$500,000 upfront, along with monthly stipends and performance bonuses.

Stona made history by becoming Jamaica’s first Olympic champion in a throwing event, while Campbell secured bronze at the 2024 Paris Olympics and set a new national shot put record of 22.31 metres in September 2024.