Top Turkish archers accuse federation of mobbing after Paris 2024
Mete Gazoz (R), Ulas Berkim Tumer (C) and Muhammed Abdullah Yildirmis (L) of Türkiye compete in archery during the Paris 2024 Olympic Games at the Esplanade des Invalides in Paris, France, July 29, 2024. (AA Photo)
Turkish archery has recently been embroiled in controversy after the Paris 2024 Olympic Games.
Successful Turkish archers Yasemin Ecem Anagoz and Gulnaz Busranur Coskun have accused the Turkish Archery Federation of unfairly excluding them from the Olympic team. They claim that last-minute changes to the selection criteria specifically targeted female archers over the age of 21, effectively disqualifying them.
In a letter to journalist Baris Pehlivan, they allege that the new rules were implemented to favor a competitor from the Okcular Vakfi (Archers’ Foundation). “They created this rule just to exclude us from the team and ensure that one athlete from Okcular Vakfi would be selected,” they wrote.
Mobbing allegations surface against Turkish Archery coaches
Anagoz and Coskun’s allegations extend beyond their exclusion from the Olympic team. They have also accused officials within the federation of mobbing and psychological pressure during national team camps.
According to their account, coaches sabotaged their performances by tampering with their equipment and subjected them to verbal abuse and threats. “They constantly tampered with our equipment, making adjustments that ruined our shots. When we still managed to perform, they resorted to insults and threats,” Anagoz and Coskun stated in their letter.
They also claimed that after filing an appeal, Coskun was threatened and offered a coaching position in exchange for her silence, which she refused.
Turkish Archery Federation, competing athletes deny allegations of misconduct
In response to these serious accusations, other members of the Turkish archery team, including Olympians Mete Gazoz, Ulas Berkim Tumer, Abdullah Yildirmis, and Elif Berra Gokkir, issued a joint statement denying the claims.
They labeled the allegations as “slander” and insisted that the selection process was fair. “The accusations made by these two former athletes are false. They are attempting to tarnish the reputation of Turkish archery and its coaches,” their statement read.
The Turkish Archery Federation also defended its procedures, noting that the selection criteria have been consistent since 2013 under the “Olimpiyatin Gencleri Projesi” (Youth of the Olympics Project), designed to support young athletes.
The federation emphasized that Anagoz and Coskun had previously benefited from these rules and that no favoritism was involved in the selection process.
