Roster Athletics Defends Integrity of Athletics Federation of Nigeria While Addressing Age Verification Concerns Across National Competitions

The Roster Athletics has stepped forward to defend the integrity of the Athletics Federation of Nigeria and its athletes, insisting that recent age falsification concerns stem largely from systemic data challenges rather than deliberate wrongdoing.

This comes after the Athletics Integrity Unit flagged 17 Nigerian athletes for conflicting birth dates, requesting verifiable documentation.

Kristian Midtgaard, Head of Business Development at Roster Athletics, told PUNCH Sports Extra that he trusts people and believes most issues are simply human errors compounded by complex data management systems.

Complexity of Athlete Data Creates Room for Error

“I have great faith in people. I genuinely trust people,” Midtgaard said.

“Data management is complex, and if you do not have automation or proper systems in place, it becomes very easy to make small mistakes.

Those small mistakes can appear as though someone is attempting to tamper with information, when in reality they are simply errors.”

He emphasized that introducing structured systems, automation, and proper support can greatly reduce these errors and help restore confidence in athlete registration processes.

Roster Athletics Platform Brings Automation and Transparency

The AFN recently rolled out the Roster Athletics platform across national and state-level competitions.

The system offers automated seeding, live results integration, and professional meet management tools designed to simplify administration and improve transparency.

Midtgaard highlighted that the platform is built to make life easier for federations and athletes alike.

“Everything we do is aimed at making the administrative side of athletics much easier.

Our involvement in data management is centred on simplifying athlete profiles, supporting federations in organising information properly, and ensuring that systems are structured and reliable,” he explained.

Sanctions and Ongoing Oversight

While Roster Athletics focuses on streamlining data management, the AFN has also recommended sanctions on athletes, coaches, and two state athletics associations following an investigation into age falsification at the 2025 African U-18 and U-20 Championships in Abeokuta.

Midtgaard reiterated that the platform’s role is supportive, not punitive.

“The immediate task is to identify the key challenges, determine where the gaps exist, and establish how best we can provide support and close those gaps,” he said.

Data-Driven Athletics for the Future

As athletics becomes increasingly data-centric, Midtgaard stressed the importance of making systems user-friendly and accessible.

The AFN’s use of Roster Athletics is part of a wider effort to prevent administrative errors from being misinterpreted as misconduct and to maintain Nigeria’s reputation in international competitions.

By implementing structured and reliable systems, the federation aims to ensure that young athletes can compete fairly and transparently, reducing the risk of reputational harm due to simple clerical mistakes.

What’s Next?

Going forward, Roster Athletics plans to continue working closely with the AFN to refine the platform, support state and national-level administrators, and close gaps in data management.

Federations will be trained to use the system effectively, while ongoing monitoring will ensure that discrepancies in athlete profiles are quickly identified and resolved.

The goal is to create a long-term framework where administrative errors no longer threaten the credibility of Nigerian athletics, allowing athletes to focus on competition rather than paperwork.

Summary

Roster Athletics has defended the Athletics Federation of Nigeria, attributing recent age falsification concerns to complex data management rather than intentional misconduct.

The AFN flagged 17 athletes for conflicting birth dates, prompting calls for verifiable documentation.

The Roster Athletics platform, now deployed across national and state competitions, provides automated seeding, live results integration, and professional meet management tools to streamline administration.

Kristian Midtgaard emphasized the platform’s supportive role in simplifying athlete data, closing gaps, and ensuring fair competition.

The AFN has also recommended sanctions following the 2025 African U-18 and U-20 Championships in Abeokuta, but the broader strategy is focused on transparency, reliability, and safeguarding Nigeria’s reputation in athletics.