Athletics Kenya pledges strict age verification as World Athletics cracks down on cheating

Speaking amid heightened scrutiny ahead of the World Under-20 Championships later this year, Athletics Kenya Youth Development Director Barnabas Korir said the global governing body is determined to establish athletes’ ages beyond any reasonable doubt.

“World Athletics has introduced very stringent measures. Even if your age is authentic, they now want to prove beyond reasonable doubt that it is your exact age,” Korir said.

He explained that both Athletics Kenya and World Athletics will no longer rely on a single document for age verification.

“As we prepare for the World Under-20 Championships this year, additional measures will be taken. We will not accept only a birth certificate, a passport alone, or an ID if you are 18,” Korir added.

According to Korir, the focus has shifted to verifying the consistency of an athlete’s records over time.

“There are other measures that must be examined to ascertain that the document you have is consistent with records from the time you were born,” he said.

The tougher stance follows years of global concern over age manipulation in junior athletics, with investigations spanning multiple countries. In response, Athletics Kenya says it is strengthening its internal vetting processes in line with World Athletics requirements to avoid post-competition sanctions, including the stripping of medals.

Korir warned that accountability extends beyond athletes to parents, coaches, and schools, stressing the importance of maintaining proper documentation from an early age.