- At least 20 Kenyan athletes have been confirmed guilty of age cheating.
- Investigations were carried out by World Athletics and Athletics Kenya.
- Sixty athletes were reviewed, with some cases still unresolved.
- Teachers and coaches are accused of altering birth records.
- Athletics Kenya has suspended the athletes as it waits for direction.
Kenyan athletics is facing renewed pressure after investigations confirmed that at least 20 international athletes were involved in age cheating.
The findings follow long-running probes by World Athletics and Athletics Kenya (AK) that began as far back as 2016, raising serious questions about discipline and fairness in junior competitions.
Athletics Kenya has moved to stop the affected athletes from competing locally.
According to AK Youth and Development Committee secretary Joseph Ilovi, the action is temporary as the federation awaits official instructions from World Athletics.
He explained that Kenya currently lacks clear local laws to guide punishment in age-related offences.
Ilovi revealed that a total of 60 athletes were investigated.
Out of the number, 25 were cleared, 15 cases are still under review, while 20 athletes were confirmed to have violated age rules.
“Those found responsible have already been suspended from competitions within the country,” Ilovi stated.
The investigations uncovered serious age manipulation, especially at the secondary school level.
Teachers and coaches are suspected of changing birth records to allow athletes to compete in younger categories.
Athletics Kenya has flagged at least ten schools believed to be involved and plans to engage the Ministry of Education and other state agencies.
Ilovi disclosed that in some cases, athletes did not even know their ages had been altered.
He said some parents were also unaware of the changes.
“We are pushing for tough action against the teachers and coaches behind this,” he said.
During a visit to Kenya in March last year, World Athletics president Sebastian Coe warned that age cheating would attract serious punishment.
He stated that athletes found guilty risk losing medals and titles and could face long bans from competition.
He also cautioned that Kenya’s junior teams would face stricter checks going forward.
Some of the athletes under investigation were medal winners at the Africa Under-20 and Under-18 Championships in Nigeria.
Others had earlier been removed from Team Kenya before the World Under-20 Championships in Peru.
Several of those found guilty are now competing at the senior level, with some having secured scholarships in universities in the United States.
Ilovi noted that Kenya is not alone in the crisis.
He said countries such as Nigeria, Ethiopia, and South Africa are also being monitored by World Athletics over similar concerns.
Age record issues have already affected entries in recent international events.
Athletics Kenya has declined to release the names of the athletes involved.
The federation says there is no legal framework under AK or the Anti-Doping Agency of Kenya to handle age-cheating cases.
“We will only publish names once World Athletics gives clear direction,” Ilovi said.
As World Athletics prepares to announce its decision, Kenyan athletics remains under heavy international attention.
The outcome is expected to affect athletes, schools, coaches, and sports officials, with a long-term impact on the future of junior athletics in the country.
