30 Kenyan athletes are investigated for age fraud

Athletics Kenya confirmed that it has already forwarded the names of athletes, including Olympic participants and four athletes who were suspended from Kenya’s team for the World Athletics Under-20 Championships in Peru last year, for further consideration over allegations of age fraud.

The investigation, led by the World Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU), is expected to reveal the extent of the scandal before sanctions are imposed.

Athletics Kenya’s director of youth and development, Barnabas Korir, revealed that they have identified 30 potential cases of age fraud, with ongoing investigations revealing disturbing details.

“This includes parents, coaches, teachers and athletes who are already speaking to us. They have given us credible leads and the revelations are disturbing”, said Barnabas Korir. However, he did not know whether federation officials were also involved in the scandal.

Barnabas Korir stressed that age fraud is more complex than doping, as it involves a network of people working together to falsify documents.

“What I can tell you is that it is even worse than doping, which is an individual issue. Age fraud involves a system, and that is why we have brought in the AIU to investigate it thoroughly”, explained he.