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JAAA President Garth Gayle defended the federation against criticism amid top athletes leaving for financial incentives, insisting officials serve without pay.
Jamaica’s Athletics Federation president, Garth Gayle, has broken his silence following the widespread concerns of field athletes switching allegiance to Turkey.
Television Jamaica aired an interview with a Turkish consultant who confirmed that top field athletes Roje Stona and Rajindra Campbell were finalising their processes of switching allegiance.
During the interview, it was further confirmed that 2022 World Under-20 champion Jaydon Hibbert was also in the process of moving.
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14:02 - 23.06.2025
‘After College, It Becomes a Business’ - Jamaican Star Supports Athletes Decamping to Turkey
Jamaican athletes who have taken up Turkish citizenship have been slammed for disloyalty but they have received a rare show of support from one of their colleagues.
The 2023 World Championship and 2024 Paris Olympics silver medallist in the long jump, Wayne Pinnock, was also said to be among the athletes close to obtaining their Turkish passports.
Reports claimed that the athletes were attracted by the cash prizes and bonuses set aside, including a minimum of US$500,000, with monthly stipends and six-figure bonuses for medals earned at global championships.
The JAAA had earlier released a statement, noting that they had not received any information concerning that, but from a press conference, the president addressed the issue.
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11:00 - 22.06.2025
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JAAA President Garth Gayle: No Member of the JAAA is Paid
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JAAA president, Garth Gayle, while addressing the media, insisted that there are no financial gains when it comes to managing the athletics federation.
Garth Gayle pointed out that the federation has received a lot of backlash, with people claiming that there is a misuse of funds, leading to the exodus.
However, the president clarified that every official in the federation has their own occupation but when it comes to the JAAA, they are only volunteers.
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16:00 - 22.06.2025
Ackera Nugent Clears the Air Over Rumours of Ditching Jamaica for Turkey
Jamaican sprinter Ackera Nugent has made her stance over a possible switching of allegiance to Turkey as has been witnessed from some of the country’s top athletes recently.
He revealed that the only reward they get is seeing Jamaican athletes finish in the podium in races and hear the national anthem being sung.
“We take a lot of hits, and we meet here every month. No member of the JAAA, none of us is paid. We have our own professions, not one of us is paid,” JAAA president Garth Gayle said in a video shared by Omilia Sports.
“People think the JAAA officials are benefiting, but it’s not easy. I went to school this morning, then came over because I made that decision to serve, and I continue to serve and give back as an educator as well as in the field of sport. There is no reward other than seeing our flags being hoisted and the anthem being sung.”
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11:00 - 21.06.2025
Federation Breaks Silence on Alleged Athlete Exodus From Jamaica to Turkey
Jamaica's athletics federation has responded to the widespread reports about Jamaican athletes transferring allegiance to Turkey.
Garth Gayle further noted that athletes switching allegiance is not an easy thing, but they have to work with what they have at the moment.
He added that the federation only works with the rules set aside by World Athletics and is in no position to make decisions on its own.
“It’s not easy to accept, but we must manage within the rules of the competition as well as with the rules of engagement as per the World Athletics body,” he said.
“We can’t speak only from an emotional point, and I want this to go out to the media landscape and to Jamaicans.”
While the growing trend of athletes switching allegiance remains a painful reality, JAAA president Garth Gayle maintains that the federation continues to operate with integrity and within the bounds of World Athletics rules, reminding Jamaicans that their only reward is national pride, not personal gain.
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