Abeokuta 2025: Age Scandal Hits Ethiopian Athletics Team

Abeokuta 2025: Age Scandal Hits Ethiopian Athletics Team

Sampson Adedeji

The Ethiopian Athletics Federation has been thrown into turmoil following an extensive age verification process that led to the disqualification of most of its athletes ahead of the 2025 Confederation of African Athletics (CAA) U-18 and U-20 Championships in Nigeria, BSNSports.com.ng reports.

Out of 76 athletes originally listed to represent Ethiopia at the event, scheduled for July 16 to 20 in Abeokuta, only 22 have been cleared to compete after undergoing a rigorous, multi-stage age assessment.

The verified list comprises six male and 16 female athletes.

The federation confirmed in a statement that the exercise was conducted by experts from the Forensic Medicine and Toxicology Unit of the Ethiopian Police Hospital.

The process included MRI scans, dental maturity tests, bone imaging, physical development evaluations, and academic record checks.

The investigation revealed widespread age discrepancies across the squad.

Alarmingly, not a single male athlete registered in the U-18 category met the eligibility criteria, with four subsequently reclassified to the U-20 division. 

The female U-18 category fared only slightly better, with just two athletes confirmed as age-compliant, while nine were moved up to the U-20 group due to age irregularities.

In the U-20 male category, only two athletes passed the verification process, with the rest failing to meet the age requirement.

Among the U-20 female athletes, just five were confirmed eligible to compete.

According to the Ethiopian Athletics Federation, the comprehensive exercise was conducted by certified medical experts to ensure compliance with the Confederation of African Athletics’ age standards.

"The Federation conducted age verification for 76 athletes using multiple scientific methods, including date of birth checks, MRI scans, bone development analysis, dental examinations, and academic history reviews,” the statement read.

“Following the process, only six male and sixteen female athletes were confirmed eligible to represent Ethiopia in Abeokuta.”

The controversy comes just weeks before the championships kick off in Nigeria, marking the country's debut as host of the continental youth athletics competition.