“Too Old to Run?” – Age Scandal Rocks Ethiopian Athletics Before African Youth Championships in Nigeria
Ethiopia’s athletics scene has been shaken by a major age scandal just weeks before the 2025 Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) U-18 and U-20 Championships, set to take place in Abeokuta, Nigeria from July 16 to 20.
Out of 76 young athletes originally selected to represent Ethiopia, only 22 have been cleared to compete after a strict age verification process. The check was led by experts from the Forensic Medicine and Toxicology Unit of the Ethiopian Police Hospital, using tools such as MRI scans, dental exams, bone development analysis, physical checks, and school records.
The investigation found that many athletes were older than the age categories allowed, leading to widespread disqualifications.
- No male athlete in the U-18 category passed the age check. Four were moved to the U-20 group.
- In the U-18 female category, only two athletes were age-eligible. Nine others were shifted to the U-20 category.
- In the U-20 male group, only two athletes were cleared.
- For the U-20 females, just five passed the verification.
In total, six male and sixteen female athletes remain eligible to represent Ethiopia at the championships.
The Ethiopian Athletics Federation said the goal of the process was to meet CAA standards and ensure fair competition. “The verification used several scientific methods to check age claims,” a statement from the federation explained.
This controversy casts a shadow over Ethiopia’s preparations and comes at a time when Nigeria is proudly preparing to host the continental youth athletics competition for the first time. Despite the setback for Ethiopia, the tournament is expected to go ahead as planned, with over a dozen African nations set to participate.
