Another Looming Scandal: AFN faces fresh scrutiny over age manipulation of 17 athletes

The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) has launched another investigation into the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN), demanding answers for significant age discrepancies found in the records of 17 athletes who have competed for the country internationally.

This latest inquiry highlights a persistent issue of alleged falsification, negligence, and administrative incompetence that continues to cast a shadow over Nigeria's reputation in global athletics.

In a letter addressed to AFN President Tonobok Ojuru Okowa and General Secretary Israel Inwang, the AIU detailed cases where athletes were registered with multiple dates of birth. Some individuals reportedly have as many as three or four different birth years listed across various competition entries and public profiles.

One prominent case involves Comfort Anietie James, a serving customs officer, whose records show conflicting birth years of 1998 and 2000. The discrepancies raise questions about her eligibility during past youth competitions, creating a potentially embarrassing situation for the Nigerian Customs Service.

Another athlete under review is Chioma Cynthia Nweke, reigning National 100m champion, African U20 champion, and 2025 MTN CHAMPS Athletics Classics star. Her official records with the AFN and World Athletics show conflicting birth dates, casting doubt on how she was cleared to participate in U20 events.

Similarly, Jennifer Chioma Nwachukwu, also known as Chioma Elochukwu, has been flagged. Despite her recent success in the NCAA, where she clocked a 400m personal best of 51.26 seconds, her age records are inconsistent, with entries showing her birth year as 2006, 2008, and even 2010.

The AIU's list of implicated athletes also includes Islamiat Akinsanya and Esther Afigbo, among others, suggesting a widespread problem rather than isolated clerical errors. The findings point towards a potential pattern of deliberate record manipulation to gain an unfair advantage in age-restricted competitions.

Critics argue that the scandal exposes deeper issues within the AFN's leadership, whose legitimacy has been questioned since alleged constitutional violations during the June 2025 elections. Key figures, including the technical director and secretary general, are accused of prioritizing personal benefits like foreign travel over their duty to uphold the sport's integrity.

The National Sports Commission (NSC) has also been implicated, with accusations of complicity in the federation's mismanagement. The NSC has reportedly appointed inexperienced individuals to key roles like secretary general and has been accused of rewarding previously indicted officials with new positions, thereby perpetuating a cycle of poor governance.

Furthermore, the NSC is alleged to have supported the controversial elections that brought the current AFN board to power, effectively seizing control of the federation's operations and undermining its independence.

Financial mismanagement has also plagued the AFN. An audit committee report previously uncovered serious financial abuses, including the misapplication of sponsorship funds from Premium Trust Bank and expenditures made without proper approval or accountability.

Once again, Nigerian athletics is on the verge of international disgrace. The issue stems not from a lack of athletic talent but from the alleged corruption and incompetence of the officials entrusted with managing the sport.