Kenyan Olympians Among 34 Athletes Under Investigation for Age Cheating

Kenyan athletics has been rocked by allegations of age cheating, with World Athletics (WA) currently investigating 34 athletes, including Olympians, in cases dating back to 2016. Athletics Kenya (AK) confirmed that it has already forwarded the names of the suspected athletes to WA’s Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) for further scrutiny.

Among those under investigation are four athletes who were dropped from Team Kenya ahead of last year’s World Under-20 Athletics Championships in Lima, Peru.

AK’s Director of Youth and Development, Barnaba Korir, revealed that investigations have identified at least 30 potential cases of falsified ages.

“This is a serious issue that involves not just the athletes, but also parents, coaches, and teachers,” Korir stated. “Some individuals have already provided credible leads, and the revelations are disturbing.”

Systematic Fraud in Kenyan Athletics

Age cheating has been an ongoing concern in junior athletics, and according to Korir, the problem is even more systemic than doping. “Unlike doping, which is an individual act, age cheating involves a network. This is why we are working with AIU for a thorough investigation,” he explained.

AK has enlisted the help of officers from Kenya’s immigration and civil registry departments to verify birth records. Investigators have even contacted hospitals where some of the suspected athletes claimed to have been born.

Korir admitted that fighting age fraud has been difficult, citing instances where AK was forced to allow suspected cheats to compete due to court injunctions.

A Long-Standing Problem

AK President Jack Tuwei has previously raised concerns about increasing cases of document falsification, particularly in under-20 competitions. “We have been focusing on doping, but age cheating is becoming a new challenge,” Tuwei warned last year.

To curb the vice, WA had imposed stricter entry requirements for last year’s World Under-20 Championships, demanding that all participating athletes use passports issued before June 30 and complete visa applications by July 7.

Possible Sanctions

Athletes found guilty of age cheating could face severe consequences, including bans, loss of titles, and being stripped of any medals won in international competitions. Korir warned that no one involved in the fraud—including parents and coaches—will be spared.

With investigations still ongoing, AIU is expected to release its findings in the coming months. If confirmed, the scandal could further tarnish Kenya’s reputation in global athletics, already struggling with widespread doping violations.