Athletics Kenya Tightens Age Verification Rules Amid Global Crackdown on Age Cheating

Athletics Kenya has announced it will enforce rigorous age verification protocols in response to a global crackdown on age cheating by World Athletics.

The move comes as the country prepares its junior athletes for the upcoming World Under-20 Championships in Eugene, Oregon.

Barnabas Korir, the Director of Youth Development at Athletics Kenya, confirmed that the international governing body is demanding more comprehensive proof of age from all competitors.

"World Athletics has introduced very stringent measures," Korir stated as quoted by Citizen Digital. "Even if your age is authentic, they now want to prove beyond a reasonable doubt that it is your exact age."

He elaborated that relying on a single document for verification will no longer be sufficient. Instead, a more holistic approach will be adopted to ensure the integrity of the competition.

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

The new focus will be on the consistency of an athlete's records over their lifetime. "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 added.

This tougher stance addresses long-standing international concerns about age manipulation in junior athletics. By strengthening its internal vetting processes, Athletics Kenya aims to prevent potential sanctions, such as the disqualification of athletes and the stripping of medals after competitions.

Barnaba Korir also issued a warning that responsibility for accurate documentation extends to the entire support system around an athlete, including parents, coaches, and schools, emphasising the need to maintain proper records from birth.