World Athletics and the Athletics Integrity Unit (AIU) have disqualified five World U20 records previously held by Ethiopian athletes, following an investigation that revealed discrepancies between the athletes’ actual ages and those listed on their official documents.
The probe focused on Medina Eisa, Birke Haylom, and Melknat Wudu, with the records in question set between 2023 and 2024. The findings confirmed that the athletes were significantly older than their passports indicated, rendering them ineligible for U20 competition.
Two-time World U20 champion Medina Eisa was found to have been born in 2002, not 2005 as listed on her passport. This meant she was 22 years old when she won the 5,000m gold at the 2024 Championships in Lima, exceeding the U20 age limit of 19. The investigation concluded that this age discrepancy unfairly deprived eligible competitors of their chance to succeed.
Similarly, former World U20 1,500m champion Birke Haylom was determined to be older than her documented age, though the precise details were not publicly disclosed.
The crackdown is part of a broader age-verification initiative across East Africa, targeting Ethiopia, Kenya, and Nigeria ahead of the 2026 World U20 Championships in Eugene, Oregon. Officials emphasize that maintaining fair competition is critical to safeguarding the integrity of youth athletics.
Experts warn that age manipulation not only damages the reputation of the sport but also discourages genuine young talent from pursuing competitive athletics. The Ethiopian Athletics Federation now faces scrutiny over its record-keeping and oversight, with expectations for tighter internal controls to prevent future violations.
This development underscores the growing global emphasis on transparency, compliance, and fairness in youth sports competitions.
