EUGENE — Amsala Getaneh of Bahrain had been scheduled to run in the 1,500-meter preliminaries in the IAAF World Junior Track Field Championships today at Hayward Field.
According to an IAAF spokesman, she won’t.
The problem? Getaneh was entered here with a passport from Bahrain showing a birth date in 1996. The World Juniors are open to athletes 19 and younger. However, The Oregonian obtained a photo copy of what appears to be an Ethiopian passport listing her birthday Jan. 18, 1990.
The IAAF — the International Association of Athletics Federations, the governing body of international track field — investigated and concluded Getaneh was too old to be eligible.
An IAAF spokesman said officials contacted members of the federation from Bahrain “to clarify why their athlete has two passports because we received an Ethiopian passport showing her date of birth as ’90 and not ’96.
“They decided they didn’t want to create problems in the competition and disturb the good relationship between the Bahrain association and the IAAF. They decided to cancel the participation of the athlete.”
Chris Turner of the IAAF said questions about ages of participating athletes are a frequent concern in international age-group competitions.
“It’s quite a regular thing,” he said. “In most cases it’s just an administrative error. … It’s very difficult to withdraw an athlete from a championships. What happens if it is an administrative error? Then the athlete has a lost a chance to compete in a junior championships.”
The meet continues at 10 a.m. today.
Here is the link for the meet schedule, today’s start lists and results. Here is how to watch if you’re interested and can’t attend.
We’ll have regular updates on the OregonLive.com track field page.
My Twitter handle is @KenGoe.
OK, links:
Mary Cain fights out of trouble and wins the World Junior women’s 3,000.
Cain speaks with reporters in this Pete Christopher video.
Universal Sports video of the women’s 3,000. Watch the move Cain makes at 200.
Nike Oregon Project coach Alberto Salazar talks about Cain’s fitness and presence of mind in this Flotrack video.
Vin Lananna says it’s time to make professional track a reality in the U.S.
Lananna says it’s time for a paradigm shift in U.S. track field. Video by Pete Christopher.
The R-G’s Austin Meek: Lananna tackles a shifting sports landscape in the U.S.
Kenya leads the medal count at the World Juniors with eight. Team USA has six.
The experts at LetsRun.com break down Cain’s victory in the 3,000.
Cain runs away from the Kenyans to win the World Junior 3,000.
It’s a rousing finish for Cain.
It’s mission accomplished for Cain.
Cain wins a milestone 3,000.
Cain runs a tactically astute race with a ferocious finish.
Larry Eder of RunBlogRun: It’s Mary Cain’s world, we just live in it.
The record-setting Wilhem Belocian is a hurdling wonder.
Video of Belocian’s record victory in the 110s.
Belocian talks to reporters after setting the world junior record in this RunnerSpace.com video.
Russian Alena Lutkovskaya wins a battle of wills in the women’s pole vault.
There were runaway winners in the men’s shot and long jump.
Oregon’s Christian Brennan talks about qualifying for the women’s 400 final in this Daily Emerald video. Brennan competes for Canada.
Brennan makes the final in the 400.
Oregon pole vaulter Cole Walsh never finds his rhythm at the World Juniors.
Team USA’s Desiree Freier talks to reporters after winning silver at the World Juniors. Video by RunnerSpace.com.
LetsRun.com’s report on the World Junior women’s 800 and men’s 1,500.
Paul Merca: Incoming Washington sprinter Jacopo Spano of Italy gets his second PR at the World Juniors.
The IAAF report on Day 3 of the World Juniors.
USA Track Field recaps the Thursday morning session and the evening session at the World Juniors.
Alexa Efraimson is ready for the next challenge.
Flotrack’s Dennis Young, who has been prescient with his predictions this week, eats waffles as he previews Day 4 of competition at the World Juniors in this video.
Garth Poorman wonders how the World Junior champions will fare in the future in this piece for the Daily Relay.
Mo Farah’s attempt at the London Marathon might have put the kibosh on his track season.
Matt Scherer talks about professional pacing and his decision to retire in this Q-and-A.
Alan Webb has been mentally recharged by the triathlon.
Dathan Ritzenhein plans a return to competition.
Some disturbing details emerge from a probable cause affidavit following the arrest of the Madras track coach.
The front page for LetsRun.com.
The home page for Oregon14.com.
The links package from Track Field News.
Runner’s World’s daily wrap of racing news.
The links from Duck Sports Now.
— Ken Goe | @KenGoe