Olympians Under Investigation for Age Cheating as Shocking Details Emerge
Prince Jean
Feb 6, 2025
Athletics Kenya is investigating multiple Olympians and junior athletes for age cheating, uncovering shocking details that could shake Kenya’s reputation.
Athletics Kenya (AK) has revealed that several athletes, including Olympians and junior competitors, are being investigated for lying about their age.
AK has already sent the names of some athletes, including four who were removed from Team Kenya for the World Under-20 Championships in Peru last year, for further checks.
The investigation, led by World Athletics' Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), will expose the full extent of the cheating before punishments are announced.
AK’s Director of Youth and Development, Barnaba Korir, said they have found about 30 possible cases.
“It involves parents, coaches, teachers, and athletes, who are already talking to us. They have given us credible leads, and the revelations are disturbing,”
A Deep System of Cheating
Korir explained that age cheating is more complicated than doping because it involves many people working together to create fake documents. “It is even worse compared to doping, which is an individual affair. Age cheating involves a system, and that is why we have involved AIU for thorough vetting,” he said.
The cases being investigated come from last year’s trials for the World Under-20 Championships held in Lima, Peru, from August 27 to 31. World Athletics had put strict rules in place, requiring all entries by June 30 and passport applications by July 7.
Despite these rules, investigations have found that birth certificates and passports were changed to make athletes seem younger. AK has been working with immigration officers and the civil registry to check the truthfulness of these documents.
“Before someone is handed a passport, clearance should come from the civil registry, but that didn’t happen in most cases where these documents have been falsified,”
Korir explained.
Hospitals and Parents Help in the Investigation
As part of their probe, AK has contacted hospitals where some athletes say they were born and found mistakes in their birth records. Some athletes have now admitted they were forced to change their ages.
“These are young people who were coaxed into cheating by their parents, coaches, and teachers. These athletes and some parents are talking, revealing what happened,”
Korir added.
AK has faced many challenges in stopping this cheating, including legal issues that prevent action against guilty athletes.
“There are cases where we stopped some athletes only to face court injunctions,”
Korir said.
Serious Concerns in Kenyan Athletics
In July last year, AK President Jack Tuwei warned that age cheating was getting out of control. He said coaches, parents, schools, and even some officials could be involved in the fraud.
“We have been focusing on doping that has gotten out of hand, but age cheating is becoming a new challenge,”
Tuwei said.
With Olympians now under investigation, Kenya’s reputation in athletics is at risk. The AIU will soon release its findings, and those found guilty could face serious punishments.
This scandal has raised concerns about the credibility of Kenya’s young athletes, and there are now calls for stricter vetting to keep competitions fair.
