Roster Athletics Rejects Cheating Claims, Says Age Disputes Linked to Record Errors

Roster Athletics has defended the credibility of Nigerian track and field competitors following recent concerns about inconsistencies in athletes’ recorded ages. The organisation said most of the flagged issues stem from record-keeping errors rather than deliberate falsification.

According to the sports data platform, variations in birth dates often happen when athlete information is transferred from older manual systems into newer digital databases. It explained that formatting differences and repeated edits can create mismatches that appear suspicious even when they are not intentional.

A senior representative of the company noted that managing large volumes of athlete data across competitions can be challenging without standardized tools. He stressed that better verification processes and improved technology can significantly reduce such discrepancies going forward.

Meanwhile, the Athletics Federation of Nigeria is reported to be strengthening its documentation and screening procedures to ensure that athlete records are accurate and meet international competition requirements. Officials say the goal is to protect clean athletes and maintain trust in national athletics results.