AK raise alarm over rising age cheating cases

The crackdown comes just weeks ahead of the national cross-country championship, now scheduled for February 8, 2025, and relocated from Ruiru to Eldoret.

This prestigious event will bring together participants from all 16 AK regions.

Barnaba Korir, AK’s Director of Youth Development, revealed that World Athletics has flagged 30 Kenyan athletes for age cheating. These cases are currently under investigation by Athletics Kenya.

“There are instances where some athletes might have provided inconsistent dates of birth. World Athletics has tasked us with verifying the actual ages of these athletes, some cases going back as far as eight years. This issue even affects some of our top athletes,” said Korir.

“We’re in a precarious position, and the President of Athletics Kenya has mandated us to conduct thorough investigations and submit a report by January 15, 2025, so that the findings can be shared with World Athletics.”

Korir clarified that athletes found guilty of age fraud will face penalties similar to those for doping violations. Sanctions will include the nullification of results achieved during the period in question.

“If we suspect foul play, AK will delve deeper to ascertain the facts. If evidence emerges that an individual tampered with their age, appropriate action will be taken based on the severity of the offense,” he stated.

Athletics Kenya is also working closely with security agencies to identify and prosecute individuals who assist athletes in falsifying birth registration documents.

The federation has expressed its determination to eradicate this unethical behavior to maintain the credibility of Kenyan athletics.

“Other countries need to trust our systems. It’s about ensuring fairness in competition - kids should compete against kids, not adults. It’s better to lose without winning a medal than to win dishonestly,” emphasised AK.

Athletics Kenya’s renewed commitment to integrity highlights its resolve to uphold fairness and transparency, ensuring a level playing field for all athletes.

The report is expected to serve as a decisive step in restoring confidence in the nation’s athletics systems.