AFN boss says Integrity of Nigeria’s athletes paramount, orders probe on AIU age-cheating allegations
By Uzor Odigbo
Nigerian athletics has been thrown into the spotlight once again as the Athletics Federation of Nigeria (AFN) has launched an immediate investigation into troubling allegations of athletes presenting multiple birth dates at the 2025 African U-18 and U-20 Championships in Abeokuta.
The Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) of World Athletics has demanded clarification after flagging a number of Nigerian athletes currently under scrutiny, prompting swift action from the AFN.
In a hard-hitting statement released in Abuja, AFN Secretary-General Israel Inwang confirmed that Federation President, Chief Tonobok Okowa, has ordered a full-scale probe, insisting that the integrity of Nigerian athletics is non-negotiable.
Chief Okowa, known for his zero tolerance for age manipulation, announced that a special investigative committee will be unveiled on Monday, December 8, with a clear mandate, uncover the truth and hold any one guilty athlete or coach accountable.
“We must protect the integrity of the sport and the image of Nigeria,” Okowa said.
“I have always championed fairness in age-grade competitions, and I do not want to believe that our athletes or officials are involved. But we will get to the end of this,” he added.
The AFN’s decisive move signals a bold attempt to defend Nigeria’s credibility on the global stage as the federation vows to clean up the sport and enforce strict sanctions where necessary.
Recall that Nigeria is in the A category of World Athletics integrity Unit standards, a red flag that focuses on Nigeria’s athletes at every national and international competitions.
