This List of naturalized sportspeople of Turkey national teams contains foreign sportspeople, who were admitted to Turkey national teams following their naturalization as citizen of Turkey, and competed at international official competitions for Turkey.
Regulations There are rules and regulations that must be followed regarding the recruitment of athletes or the athletes who will represent the countries in competitions. Although the laws governing acquiring citizenship in another country vary from country to country, the regulations that must be followed in competitions organized worldwide are the same for every country.
Regarding the nationality of the competitors, following four main provisions are stated in Rule 41 published by the International Olympic Committee (IOC) in the Olympic Charter:
According to the nternational Association of Athletics Federations' (IAAF) 2016-2017 International Competition Rules (Rule 5):
In team sports like football and basketball, the rules for competing for another country are even stricter. According to the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) and the International Basketball Federation (FIBA), if an athete has competed for one country in an official elite-level match, they are not permitted to compete for another country (FIBA, 2017; FIFA, 2015). This rule is also called "play-stay" in English.
While Turkey follows the aforementioned ules for recruiting athletes in international organizations, it also applies its own country's rules regarding acquiring Turkish citizenship to these athletes. The rules regarding acquiring Turkish citizenship are determined in accordance with the regulation "Regarding the Implementation of the Turkish Citizenship Law" issued by a cree dated 6 April 2010.
Reasons Recruited athletes are generally selected from athletes who have previously achieved success in sports or have a high potential for success. Reasons for acquiring citizenship include family reasons (marriage, having a parent who is a citizen of another country), economic difficulties in their home country, seeking financial income, obtaining a better education, improving training opportunities, or because their home country has a high number of successful athletes and is unable to compete in the Olympic Games.
Archery Name Country ofOrigin Birth name Birth dateand Age Period Ref. 2005–2006 1996– Athletics Name Country ofOrigin Birth name Birth dateand Age Period Ref. 1999–2013 2017 1999–2013 2001–2005 2004–2021 2009 2016–2024 2014–2018 2000 2009–2010 2008–2009 2 October 1913–1987 1938–1939 2012–2015 2013– 2016–2022 2009 2001 1999–2001 2013–2017 2016–2022 2012–2016 2021–20124 2015 2012–2018 2009–2012 1999 2016 1998 2007 2020
Badminton Name Country ofOrigin Birth name Birth dateand Age Period Ref.
Basketball Name Country ofOrigin Birth name Birth dateand Age Period Ref. 2024- 2026- 2025- 2015–2018 2005–2007 2026– 2012–2023 2020-2022 2006- 2022- 2009–2011 2011- 2022- 2011–2014 2014–2017 2019-2021 2018–2023 2005–2016
Cycling Name Country ofOrigin Birth name Birth dateand Age Period Ref. 2023-
Fencing Name Country ofOrigin Birth name Birth dateand Age Period Ref. 2014– 2016–
Football Name Country ofOrigin Birth name Birth dateand Age Period Ref. 2006–2011 2025– 2016–2017
Gymnastics Name Country ofOrigin Birth name Birth dateand Age Period Ref. 2020-
Handball Name Country ofOrigin Birth name Birth dateand Age Period Ref. 2014-
Ice hockey Name Country ofOrigin Birth name Birth dateand Age Period Ref. 25 August 1917–1975 1940s
Ice skating Name Country ofOrigin Birth name Birth dateand Age Period Ref. 2010-2016 2024-
Judo Name Country ofOrigin Birth name Birth dateand Age Period Ref. 2016- 2019-2024 2016-2018
Kayaking Name Country ofOrigin Birth name Birth dateand Age Period Ref. 2016- 2024-
Kickboxing Name Country ofOrigin Birth name Birth dateand Age Period Ref.
Speed skating Name Country ofOrigin Birth name Birth dateand Age Period Ref. 2021-
Swimming Name Country ofOrigin Birth name Birth dateand Age Period Ref. 2013-2017 2017- 2013-2022 2009-2012
Table tennis Name Country ofOrigin Birth name Birth dateand Age Period Ref. 2009-2016 2013 2008
Triathlon Name Country ofOrigin Birth name Birth dateand Age Period Ref. 2025-
Volleyball Name Country ofOrigin Birth name Birth dateand Age Period Ref. 2017- 2025- 2025- 2021- 2018- 2023- 2024- 2023-
Weightlifting Name Country ofOrigin Birth name Birth dateand Age Period Ref. 1991-2005 1991-1997 3 January 1967–18 November 2017 1988-1996
Wrestling Name Country ofOrigin Birth name Birth dateand Age Period Ref. 2007-2008 2014-2021 2012-2020
References Irmak