Athletics Kenya has excluded two junior athletes from the World Cross Country Championships squad over unresolved age verification issues, with a 2016 World Under-20 3,000m steeplechase champion among those selected to replace them.
Kibet Kandie and Agnes Mwikali were removed from the men's and women's Under-20 teams after their age documentation failed verification. Kibet's birth certificate listed him as 18 but lacked a national ID, while Mwikali's records were deemed insufficient for official confirmation. Both had qualified for the March 30 event in Aarhus, Denmark, by finishing sixth and fourth in national cross country races.
Cleophas Kandie, a 2017 World Under-18 2,000m steeplechase silver medallist, and Mercy Cherop replaced the athletes. Cleophas fell during the February 23 National Cross Country Championships in Eldoret, where he was third before collapsing. Mercy replaced Roselida Jepketer, who sustained an injury. Athletics Kenya cited compliance with Athlete Integrity Unit requirements for the changes.
The final team includes 30 athletes selected during nationals, with Hellen Obiri absent as chef de mission for the ANOCA Zone V Genocide Memorial Games in Rwanda. Obiri, a 5,000m world and Commonwealth champion, was granted a week's exemption for National Olympic Committee of Kenya duties.
Team Kenya's training camp at Kigari Teachers Training College in Embu is fully occupied except for Obiri. Other confirmed members include 2016 World Under-20 5,000m champion Beatrice Chebet and Samuel Chebole, who won junior cross country events. All athletes received Nike kits and allowances ahead of the competition.
