Age Eligibility and Intergrity: AFN Reaffirms Commitment to Fairness and Staff Welfare
Oru Leonard
The Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) reaffirms its commitment to the principles of integrity, fairness, and athlete welfare as set out in the World Athletics Rules and the global integrity
framework administered by the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU).
According to the AFN statement, age eligibility requirements are a fundamental component of fair competition in athletics. They exist to protect athletes, particularly minors, ensure equal conditions of participation, and safeguard the credibility of results and development pathways. Any falsification or misrepresentation of age constitutes a serious breach of eligibility rules and undermines confidence in the sport.
In line with World Athletics standards, the Federation applied a robust and proportionate disciplinary framework to confirmed cases of age manipulation arising out of the recent AIU inquiry. This framework reflects the AIU’s emphasis on:
• Accountability, including responsibility for athletes and for athlete support personnel;
• Deterrence, through meaningful and enforceable sanctions;
• Consistency, in the application of rules;
Due process, including the presumption of innocence, the right to be heard, and decisions based on credible evidence.
Where age falsification was established following due process, consequences included disqualification from competitions, annulment of results, periods of ineligibility, sanctions against
coaches or other support personnel who are found to have facilitated or knowingly enabled the violation, and sanctions against states who have historically participated in these violations.
The AFN underscores that investigations were conducted independently and in accordance with established procedures, consistent with World Athletics and AIU practices. No individual was sanctioned without a fair hearing and a reasoned decision.
In addition to disciplinary measures, the AFN is strengthening preventative and educational initiatives, including improved age-verification processes and integrity education for athletes, coaches, and administrators. Hence the recently signed partnership with Roster Athletics. These steps reflect the shared objective of World Athletics and the AIU to protect clean athletes and promote trust in the sport.
The AFN remains committed to cooperation with World Athletics, the Athletics Integrity Unit, and relevant authorities in upholding the highest standards of integrity and governance in athletics.
Source: Kola Daniel
