AIU Tells AFN to Submit Early‑Life, Time‑Stamped Birth Records in Age‑Cheating Probe

The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) has clarified that the Athletic Federation of Nigeria (AFN) must submit credible, contemporaneous documents to establish the true dates of birth of seventeen athletes flagged for age discrepancies.

The requirement forms part of the AIU’s 2 December 2025 directive, which gives the AFN until 5 p.m. CET on 16 January 2026 to provide full explanations and supporting evidence.

According to the AIU, the most important records are those created at or near the time of birth, or during early schooling, because such documents carry the highest evidentiary value and are less susceptible to manipulation.

The Unit emphasised that documents issued many years after birth, especially during an athlete’s competitive career, will not be given the same weight.

Among the primary documents requested, birth certificates are considered central because they are typically issued shortly after delivery and record the date of birth based on hospital or registry information.

The AIU also highlighted current and previous passports, noting that earlier passports are particularly important since they reflect identity details submitted long before any potential incentive to alter age for competition.

The Unit further underscored the importance of education records, including school admission files, end‑of‑term reports, exam results and student identification cards.

These documents are created throughout a child’s academic progression and provide a chronological trail that can confirm whether an athlete’s claimed age aligns with their schooling history. Early‑stage school records, such as primary school enrolment documents, are especially valuable because they pre‑date any involvement in elite sport.

In addition to these, the AIU pointed to national identity cards and university registration records as key sources of verification, as they are issued through government or institutional processes that require supporting documentation at the time of application.

The AFN may also submit secondary documents, but the AIU noted that these will only supplement, not replace, primary evidence.

Examples include hospital files, vaccination records, dental charts, police clearances, insurance policies, census entries, bank registration forms, employment records, religious certificates and driving licences.

While these documents may not be created at birth, they can help establish a consistent timeline of identity if they were issued before any competitive age category participation.

The AIU stated that the purpose of requesting such a wide range of records is to ensure that each athlete’s age can be verified through multiple independent sources, particularly those generated long before any potential motive for age manipulation existed.