The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) has raised serious concerns over widespread age discrepancies involving 17 Nigerian athletes linked to junior and youth competitions, issuing a formal request to the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) to provide documentary clarification by January 16, 2026.
In a letter dated December 2, 2025 and addressed to AFN President Tonobok Ojuru Okowa and General Secretary Israel Inwang, the AIU revealed that continued scrutiny of athlete records has uncovered multiple, conflicting dates of birth for 16 athletes who participated in the 2025 African Junior Championships. An additional athlete, whose irregularities were detected before the tournament, also features on the list.
According to the AIU, each of the affected athletes possesses at least two — and in some cases several — different dates of birth. These have been used on competition entry lists, World Athletics databases, Tilastopaja records, national trials, youth games, and other publicly accessible profiles, raising suspicions of falsification or possible eligibility manipulation.
The AIU stressed that it has no confirmed explanation for why such discrepancies exist, including whether identification documents previously submitted to event organisers may have been falsified or forged. The body fears the possibility of athletes gaining improper access to age-category competitions when ineligible, or alternatively, being eligible by age but having participated under inaccurate documentation.
Brett Clothier, Head of the Athletics Integrity Unit, cautioned that the nature of the inconsistencies may amount to potential breaches of several regulatory frameworks. These include:
The Honesty Integrity Standard (Rule 3.3.1) of the Integrity Code of Conduct
World Athletics Technical Rules (Rules 3.1 and 3.2) relating to age-category eligibility
Clothier further disclosed that his mandate requires determining whether these matters establish a prima facie case to initiate an official investigation under Rule 2.3 of the AIU Reporting, Investigation and Prosecution Rules (RIP Rules). Once such a case is established, the AIU is empowered to commence investigation proceedings without the obligation to provide reasons, and such decisions cannot be contested.
However, before making a final determination, the AIU has formally requested the AFN to explain the existence of multiple dates of birth for each listed athlete and to submit verified documentary evidence establishing their correct dates of birth.
The requested documents, the AIU emphasised, must be contemporaneous records, prioritising official and primary documents such as passports (current and previous), birth certificates, national identification cards, and school records. Secondary documents — ranging from medical records and police clearances to social media registration data and utility records — may also be submitted to support each case.
The AFN must respond via email to the AIU by 5pm CET on January 16, 2026.
THE ATHLETES AFFECTED
The list of 17 athletes with conflicting ages includes participants from multiple competitions such as the African Junior Championships, National Youth Games, Asaba Trials, the Lagos Club Athletics Series, and previous junior events. Some athletes have up to four or five different dates of birth recorded across various platforms.
The athletes flagged include:
1. Ademola Juliana Temitope
2. Adeniji Muideen Adeola
3. Afigbo Esther
4. Ajibare Ibrahim
5. Emmanuel Blessing
6. Honourable Clement Victor
7. Meshack Ugwu
8. Ukandu Agonna Judith
9. Edeyaru Elizabeth
10. Akinsanya (Ajoke) Islamiyat
11. Ikweki Praise
12. Olowatobiloba Bamidele
13. Nwachukwu (Elochukwu) Jennifer Chioma
14. Dickson Christian
15. Badmus Gafari Atanda
16. Nweke Cynthia Chioma
17. Comfort Anietie James
These athletes’ records show inconsistencies ranging from one- to six-year age differences, in some cases with entire sets of altered dates depending on the competition entered.
The AIU requires the AFN to provide clear explanations for why each athlete has multiple dates of birth and to submit credible, original-age documents to establish the accurate DOB for every listed athlete.
The body also wants the AFN to ensure all evidence reaches the AIU before the January 16 deadline.
Failure to justify the discrepancies could lead to official investigations, sanctions, and broader consequences for the AFN and the athletes involved — including suspensions, disqualification of past results, or further disciplinary measures under World Athletics frameworks.
As the global athletics body intensifies its crackdown on age-cheating practices, the AFN now faces significant pressure to provide transparency, accountability, and verifiable documentation to clear the growing concerns surrounding age-category competitions in Nigeria.
Meanwhile, a top source has informed Dasportstainment247.com that the Executive Board of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) will meet at the end of December to discuss issues around the letter from the AIU and other sundry regarding the growth of the sport in the country.
