Following the reports last week that some athletes have changed their names to compete in 6km junior women at the forthcoming world cross country championships in Aarhus, Denmark, Athletics Kenya has admitted that some cheating individuals will be charged.
Daily Nation reported that A.K is investigating the eligibility of some members in the Under-20 team for the World Cross Country Championships planned for March 30.
Federation’s vice president Paul Mutwii, who is also in charge of competitions, noted that some athletes might have presented fake birth certificates to earn selection during the National Cross Country Championships held on February 23 at Eldoret Sports Club.
There was information that some athletes, who had competed as juniors many year ago and had used different birth certificates to earn places both in men and women’s Under-20 teams.
“We are looking into that matter and we want to make sure everything is well and that we are in line with Athlete Integrity Unit requirements,” said Mutwii adding that a report will be out by Thursday when they will make the final entry for the World Championships.
Mutwii, who declined to disclose the identity of the athletes saying that they don’t want to victimise any athlete before the truth is known.
“We don’t want to come up with names and then it turn out to be otherwise.”
Mutwii disclosed that only two athletes are yet to report to residential training that got underway on Friday last week at Kigari Teachers Training College, Embu.