Nigerian sprint sensation Favour Ashe has not filed any official request to switch allegiance to Qatar, according to World Athletics.

Speculation about a potential nationality change intensified after reports linked the 23-year-old to Qatar’s training programme in South Africa.

However, World Athletics’ Head of Communications, Maggie Durand, confirmed that no application has been received from Ashe or any other Nigerian athlete regarding a transfer of allegiance.

Transfer of Allegiance Rules Explained

Under World Athletics regulations, athletes seeking to compete for another country must observe a mandatory three-year waiting period once their application is approved.

The governing body maintains that all transfers are handled fairly, transparently, and in the best interests of the sport.

If Ashe eventually files for a switch, his eligibility countdown would likely begin from 2025, the year he last represented Nigeria at the National Sports Festival in Abeokuta.

This timeline could potentially rule him out of representing Qatar at the 2028 Los Angeles Olympics.

Ashe’s Career Highlights and Records

Ashe boasts a personal best of 9.94 seconds in the 100m, placing him joint-sixth on Nigeria’s all-time list alongside Davidson Ezinwa.

In 2022, he clocked a wind-assisted 9.79s at the LSU Invitational in Baton Rouge — the fastest time ever recorded by a Nigerian under all conditions.

He further cemented his elite status in 2023 and 2024 with multiple sub-10-second performances, including a runner-up finish at the NCAA Division I Outdoor Championships in Eugene, Oregon.

Athletics Federation Yet to Clarify Status

The Athletics Federation of Nigeria has not issued an official statement confirming Ashe’s status.

Meanwhile, the sprinter has reportedly spent several months in Qatar and shared images in the country’s kit, fueling ongoing speculation.

For now, World Athletics’ confirmation makes it clear: no formal allegiance switch has been initiated.