AIU Gives Nigeria January Deadline Over Junior Athletes’ Age Scandal
By AUGUSTUS ISICHEI
THE Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) has issued Nigeria a stern ultimatum to resolve alleged age discrepancies in its junior athletes, setting a deadline of 16 January 2026. The directive concerns the 2025 African U18 & U20 Championships in Abeokuta, where 16 of the 17 registered Nigerian athletes were found to have conflicting birth dates across official records, prompting suspicions of systematic age manipulation.
In a formal notice to the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), the AIU demanded verifiable age documentation—including birth certificates, passports, school records, and medical files—to establish the athletes’ true ages. Failure to comply will trigger a full investigation under the AIU Integrity Code of Conduct and World Athletics regulations.
This marks Nigeria’s second major age-related controversy in under two years, raising questions about internal governance under AFN President Tonobok Okowa. Secretary General Israel Inwang and Technical Director Gabriel Okon have faced criticism over procedural lapses, echoing similar issues from previous leadership.
The AIU described the irregularities as beyond clerical errors, suggesting deliberate manipulation to gain advantage in age-grade competitions. Such practices, it warned, threaten the credibility of competitions, erode international trust, and violate ethical standards for member federations.
With the January deadline approaching, the AFN faces mounting pressure to submit credible evidence or risk sanctions that could further tarnish Nigeria’s athletics reputation.
