Athletes to be subjected to a proof of age test

National Junior Championships
Date: Saturday, May 19
Venue: Namboole
Time: 8am - 4pm

Uganda Athletics Federation is moving to tighten the noose around age cheats with a mandatory inspection prior to competition.

All athletes taking part in Saturday's National Junior Athletics Championship will be subjected to a proof of age test. Each athlete is required to produce their national identity card or UNEB result certificates.

In the absence of a national identity card and UNEB result certificates, the intending participants will be physically examined with emphasis on facial appearance to try and determine their age. Today's championship, taking place at Mandela National Stadium Namboole, is open to athletes who will not have made their 20th birthday by the end of 2018.

With the IAAF World Under-20 Championships coming up in July, UAF has lined up Saturday's event as one of the qualifiers for the competition in Tempere, Finland. Twenty-nine track and field events have been planned for the day starting with the men's 10,000m final.

"We have a lot of competitions coming up in the course of the year, so we need to get down to business," stressed UAF secretary Beatrice Ayikoru.

"This is a chance for all young athletes to show what they are capable of doing on the track."

Another major youth event this year is the Third Youth Olympics to be held next October in Argentina.