DIGEST/ATHLETICS: A runner in Kenya's world junior championships team was charged yesterday with forging his age on official documents.

Thomas Loriongosiwa pleaded not guilty at a Nairobi court to the charges of forging his age on his birth certificate and providing false information on a passport application.

His arrest followed a meeting between the Kenyan sports minister, Maina Kamanda, and the International Association of Athletics Federation president, Lamine Diack, in Monaco in July, when the issue of age falsifying among Kenyans was discussed.

One of Loriongosiwa's passports indicated he was born on January 14th, 1982, and another May 14th, 1988. The case will be heard on October 24th.

Also yesterday, a second athlete dropped out of Kenya's team for the world junior championships after confessing being over age. Kamanda said Emmanuel Chamer had owned up to forging his age.