New evidence for Kalembo WR age: Seoul Olympic ID looks 28
Douglas Kalembo is looking for a Santa without the middle name Kafka. His efforts to get recognition for the first sub-50 for 400 at age 50 are winding through a maze of bureaucracy. But his 49.85 clocking last July has fallen through the cracks. Why? It’s not a simple matter of age. In recent weeks, email exchanges reveal other reasons. Did he provide a record application? Did his track lack rails? Hang with me on this.
Kalembo ID badge from 1988 Olympics shows him looking older than 18.
But first a chronology of email, which I gave up on editing.
On Sept. 28, 2010, Rashelly Mwale wrote Olympic researcher James Hilary Evans:
Hi, daglus happens to be my cousin and all he says is true, Am more than willing to furnish you with all info concerning his age. Some of those facts, you have to be here in Zambia so can see for yourself from other brothers and sisters he has. There are many ways in which you can prove this. His former employer before coming to the USA Zambia National Service, also the school he attended. Plse fill free to ask anything about this issue. My name is rashelly mwale
On Dec. 5, after I reported that USATF didn’t ratify his 400 time as an M50 American record, I received this note from a masters track friend:
One of my former graduate students is Francis Dove Edwin. He is the head of the Olympic committee in Sierra Leone and also acts as the sprint coach for several west African track teams. I sent him a note asking about Douglas Kalembo. He knows a lot of people in that part of world and might shed some light on the problem.
One possibility is that Douglas lied about his age to get a college scholarship. St Angelo is famous for bringing in foreign ringers. His old deception might be biting him in the ass now. I will let you know if I hear anything.
On Dec. 6, Kalembo responded to my query on whether he would take legal action against USATF:
Hi Ken
Thank for the information i did not know, who can i talk to before i pursue legal action. No one has contacted me or asking me for anything ,that is bad business.
On Dec. 6, Kalembo wrote me:
Ken here is my record for 1988 Olympics . Ken please give me the name USATF official i can talk to . Ken am challenging this guys who are trying to make me look bad to request the official and original copy of the registration for Olympics1988 All africa Games 1987 Kenya and Africa Track and field Games AIGERIA 1988
Because this guys are saying never seen any of my records indicating 07/24/60 . Am even willing to buy him Air ticket to go to ZAMBIA for him to go and verify with board of education so he can see when i was born when i started school. if he really what to know the truth about africa man age. Ken i want to be young because i never heard or seen any who wants to be old. The truth is the truth .
On Dec. 7, after I sent him a link to the USATF organizational directory and the masters committee, Kalembo wrote:
Thanks for the information, But, Ken i thought you were part of the committee that why i send the information to you when you ask for it NOW you can see my information all over the world people are calling saying why you late your information be exposed that way. Please re track or bring everything down i do not want anyone to use my information please. I have all the facts so i do not need to prove the point with people on line but with the USATF people that why i was depending on you to give them documents not to put them on line.PLEASE my friend do the right thing have not lied to you and am not going to start now i open up to you because i trusted you with my information and my documents.
Douglas Kalembo
On Dec. 8, Evans wrote Kalembo:
Dear Mr. Kalembo,
First of all , I have to apologise for not getting back to you earlier. I had a complete computer breakdown and had to reload everything I had. I lost my e-mail address book in the crash and couldn’t find your address.Two things I’m going to do straightaway. First I’m going to take down the 1970 birthdate from our website in the next few days and leave that section blank until this matter is sorted out. I don’t wish that to be used as evidence against you.
Secondly I’m going to do as you suggested and find entry forms from 1987 and 1988. If 1960 is on those forms then nobody can doubt you are 50. Personally I hope we can prove you are correct. It is a great story that a 50 year can run so fast.
Please remember that I had not found the information from the Texas documents someone else will have. They are not difficult to find.
Best wishes,
James Evans
On Dec. 8, Southeast USATF Region Masters T&F chair Maxwell Hamlyn wrote USATF Masters T&F Records Committee chair Sandy Pashkin:
Hello Sandy ,
I am not sure if you are the right person to resolve this problem , but if not perhaps you can give me the right names . Doug Kalembo is a member of my region and has requested through his GA Chair how he can resolve his Proof of age problem before next track season . I know that you are familiar with concerns about his true age and I believe that it is in everyone’s interest to finalize this concern . Therefore what must he do to prove what his true age is ?
On Dec. 9, Pashkin wrote Hamlyn, Masters T&F Chairman Gary Snyder and others:
Maxwell,
I have not questioned Doug’s age – I have not received any record applications for him. I am not involved with any controvesty that is on Ken Stone’s website/blogs. I deal with the facts, not inuendo’s. When I receive an application for/from Doug, I will treat it like any other record form. I do not question anyone’s passport, so why should I question Doug’s? If it has all the required information, I will present it to the Masters T&F Committee at the USATF Annual Meeting next year . At that point, anyone on the Committee can question any record.
Sandy
On Dec. 9, Kalembo wrote Evans in the UK:
Hope everything is well,with me not very well as you can see my record has been rejected because of your article am not trying to stop you doing your job but i want you to be fare.P LEASE do me big fervor by you requesting IAAF TO SEND you a copy of my registration paper work for Olympic 1988, All Africa Games in Kanya 1987 and Africa track and field Games Algeria 1988 as everybody know that any championship you have to register for anybody to take part in the Games, the require weight, height, date of birth, country,. agenda and event that we really help my case Evans i have no beef with you because you are just trying to make fare game, And my motive on this is to challenge science that years are just numbers.
For me to do this i have to be honest to myself, it is vow i took to myself this is person and i hope something good we come out this so doctors can do experiment on me to help other people.Evans am looking at this at the positive side because without you challenging my years no one could have notice me , thank you for that .One more thing you can do for me his to contact Times of Zambia news paper company in Zambia pull some articles of me since 1984 to 1988 and contact Samuel Matete here is his email samuelmatete @yhoo.com.
regards Douglas Kalembo.
On Dec. 9, Kalembo wrote me:
ken am still waiting for USATF, have not received an official letter from them,talked to Sandy and the CHAIRMAN. Some are saying the track i run in had no rails so i do not know years or rails.I KNOW THE TRUTH WHO SATE ME FREE
Douglas
Later Dec. 9, Evans wrote me:
Dear Mr. Stone,
I’ve been able to talk to a friend who has a original copy of the entry lists for the 1988 Olympics.
This confirms he was entered with a 1960 year of birth for Seoul.
Strange as it seems I’ve got to admit that I’m beginning to believe him over this.
I still wish we could find some results for him before the mid eighties though.
James Hilary Evans
On Dec 12, Hamlyn wrote Snyder:
WE , as MT&F , need to resolve the question of Doug Kalembo’s D-O-B ASAP , as he wants to compete in the 2011 Indoor Track Season . Sandy has said that she has not questioned his age , since she has not received a Record Application .
This may indicate that we have a communications problem in MT&F as Doug told Mary Richards (GA MT&F Chair) that he sent an e-mail to MT&F (I do not know to whom) and Mary reported that MTF had rejected his record application due to concerns about his true D-O-B . As Doug is in my region I would like to resolve this problem ASAP so that Doug will know whether he can compete as a 50 year old or he must compete in the M-40/44 division .
Your assistance in speedily resolving this question would be appreciated .
On Dec. 13, Kalembo wrote Pashkin:
Greeting Sandy,My name is Douglas Kalembo, i did send you email some time back but no answer, i want to find out about my two world records age 45-49 and 50-55, time 49.77 and 49.85 your assistance will be greatly appreciated
Douglas Kalembo
Later Dec. 13, Pashkin wrote Kalembo:
Hi Doug,
I have not received any record applications for your performances.
Sandy
On Dec. 17, Evans wrote Kalembo:
Although I have had no reply from the IAAF I have a friend who has copies of official documents from the 1988 Olympics and others from the period.
All these documents have a year of birth of 1960 for you.
I think these prove your case 100% and I’m going to change your date of birth on our website to 1960.
My advice is for you is for you to find as much information as you can (passports., driving licenses, and newspaper reports and especially reports from before 1988) and take them to US Track and Field.
If you explain to them why you had a problem with the passport that had 1970 on it then I think they must ratify your record.
Good luck.
So there you have it. A clusterfuck of records process ignorance by an athlete; USATF officials lacking intellectual curiosity, oblivious to what’s posted about their own sport; and international track experts flip-flopping on someone’s vital stats.
What do we know for sure?
The day after his birthday, Douglas Kalembo ran the 400 meters in 49.85 on July 25 at the Sports Festival meet at the Woodward Academy in Atlanta, Georgia. His race is taped, the results posted and the FAT photo published. His DOB may be less in dispute given the mature face shown on his 1988 Olympic ID badge from Seoul.
So where do we go from here?
Someone has to track down his record application — or cobble one together from scratch. If his DOB is 1960, and Sandy Pashkin will accept his current passport as proof of age, then it’s merely a matter of paperwork.
Sub-50 at 50 isn’t chopped liver, folks. Let’s get this done.
28 Responses
I have forwarded you the record application. Just complete the form and attached the photo finish and make sure the meet director signs off on it.
I am glad they have finally proven you innocent in the Media. See you at Indoor Nationals and Worlds. I would have to say that he is going to lower that Record at Worlds, so hold on to your stop watches folks.
If Mr. Kalembo has proven his age to the satisfaction of the US Government, then that is proof enough. As to the answer to the question of why someone would want to be old, there are many reasons – but mainly to receive some kind of benefit that age would grant you. For us Masters athletes, running fast as we get older is what we get recognized for. So being older (not old) and fast is definitely something we aspire to be. There seems to have been some confusion about Mr. Kalembo’s age brought on through a combination of factors, however at the end of the day the US government has accepted Mr. Kalembo’s evidence of age.
Mr. Kalembo you need to do the correct paper work to get your records recognized. Congratulations on your fast running and keep training hard. I think that most of us have a really hard time believing that someone can run a sub 50 400 meters at 50 years old. Yet, you did. We need to adjust our thinking and training. I for one, sure would like to run a sub 50 400 meters at 50 and since I am only 46, I have a few years left to get ready for it.
I still think the chronology is fishy. Lying to get a college scholarship actually does make sense and makes me believe he might be older, but I would still like to know how he supported himself from around age 18-27 when no one seems to have any record of him competing.
How often does an athlete enter the scene in their late 20s and have no performances to speak of before that?
If he is telling the truth, he should either have some track results from those years, or he should have an interesting story of how he came to start track at a late age.
Pole Vaulter….I’m suspicious too. Looking at his picture alone makes me question his age. If he’s 50….then the Detroit Lions will win the Super Bowl !
I tend to agree with Sandy in that if he has a valid passport that would be the age that is used.
If he ran 59 instead of 49 would we believe his age claim?
How did he do in the 88 Olympics?
Photo above shows what he looked like in 1988.
Kalembo’s Olympic results are here:
http://www.sports-reference.com/olympics/athletes/ka/douglas-kalembo-1.html
Site still lists him as being born in 1970, but that should change.
http://www.trackinsun.com/ranking/ZAMBIA%20400%20METRES%20HOMES.htm site states a 400 m time of 46.89 and a birthdate 24.7.60 while competing in Annabe on 8/29/88 (Zambia Athletics Statistics). IAAF.org gives 1:46.93 for 800 m and 24.7.1970. Dude ran 1:50.17 for 800 m in 1987 African Zone VII Championships; no birthdates listed. Zambia only had 4 track athletes @ 1984 Olympics, by the way.
Regardless of his age, he’s down as running 46.89 in 1988 and 49.85 in 2010.
That’s pretty good staying power over 22 years!
Ok there is a good chance he is 50 and a reason why he might have lied about his age back then was probably in regards to getting a college scholarship.
Now speaking from personal experience, i am a little biased, but i hope someone holds his feet to the fire a little. You see back in the 70’s there was quite a wave of older foreign runners coming to the USA and getting the scholarships that previously had gone to Americans. I was one of those Americans who had a handshake agreement as a 17 year old w a 151 800PR. Later when i came to fill out my paperwork i was informed that the school had just given my scholarship to a 26 year old Kenyan who had competed in the Olympics.
Later when DOUG was competing, the rules had changed to limit the eligibility of older athletes to level the playing field a little.
So there was a reason for his deception then and i would imagine he is not particularly proud of it.
Now he wants us to recognize his true age. Sorry but you shouldnt be able to have it both ways.
I guess the only regress i have as i am in the same age group now, is to start training and take out my revenge on the track…
Interesante=interesting.Revenge sounds MALICIOUS-Why not run behind him and THEN BLOW BY HIM THE LAST 100M-That should FEEL GOOD
A Douglas Kalembo had attended the 1991 World Champioships in Tokyo (6 heat, 800 mt, 1’48″26). Perhaps asking in Japan…
http://www2.iaaf.org/results/past/WCH91/data/M/800/Rh.html
Dude is stated on Zambian Athletics Statistics with a 400 m time of 46.89 for a race on 8/29/1988 in Annabe and a birthday of 24.7.60. Ran 1:50.17 in the 1987 African Zone VI Championships @ Harare, ZIM, 1:48.26 and 7th and last in his 800 m heat in 1991 Worlds in Athens. On the IAAF.org website, dude is shown with a birthday of 24.7.1970. I’m not surprised, the man still sounds confused as shown above. I put him in the M 50. By the way, I found only 4 athletes from Zambia @ the 1984 Olympic Games.
They can’t even get the basics correct on the gentleman. Of course, the 1991 Worlds were held in Japan. 3rd 1991 Tokyo Japan Aug 23 – Sept 1 National Olympic Stadium
For those of you saying this is fishy because “he looks old,” have you seen or heard of the age questioning regarding Greg Oden?
I’m with those of you who are satisfied he’s proven his age. Good luck, Douglas!
Hey Mellow: you aint lying bro about ODEN;He gets viejo=old by the second;BLACK DONT CRACK-DOES APPLY TO HIM
I Know mr Kalembo very much to those who want know what he did before 1988 olympics he was the National champion in 400m/800m in Zambia for about 7 years ,until he left for USA. COACH for his Track team Zambia National Service Track Club 5 years, Athlete of the year 5-6 years strait, we use to call him Track Master. He was Zone six champion that is six countries south part of Africa. competed in All AFRICA GAMES 1987 and AFRICA Track and Field cHAMPIONSHIP 1988 were he run 46.68 It did not surprise me for him to run 49 second look at his college career he was unbeatern in 800m. the only problem He came to USA very late in his career compared his home boy Samul Matete .He now coach Chris Brown who just won the 400m indoor world championship this year, he is a real deal.
Those of us who have known Dougy since childhood and having been married to his best friend can attest and say he is telling the truth about his age. So those haters and enviers of his ability and capability to run at 50 go suck an egg somewhere and let the man do what he does best…run Forest run…go break some more records an show them that 50 is a mere number…
http://www.mastersathletics.net/fileadmin/html/Rankings/Rankings_2010/2010400metres.html
ranked 2nd in the world 400 M40-44
The picture minus the stache.. looks 18-19
I agree with Mellow Johnny and the others who think that enough is enough about Douglas. If one day it is proven that his age is incorrect, then criticize him. Until then, let’s appreciate what he is able to accomplish on the track. I hope he continues to do well as this reflects well on all of us Masters athletes.
The problem is not what Doug has done on the track….his times are indisputable. It’s just his age.
There is nothing wrong with a little due diligence when it comes to the record breaking process especially when it comes to age.
Our sport regards integrity and honesty to ensure legitimacy in record claims. Strict standards are a way to protect and honor those records and individuals.
We question and criticize in order to ensure fairness for all. When a record is broken it should be done so under the strictest of standards and invite even more inquiry and scrutiny.
For example, was it a legal runway without a slope, what was the wind reading, was it an official meet and in some cases was the athlete drug tested? Age is not exempt from those processes. We have the right to question and investigate any part of a person’s profile most appropriate in a master’s age competition.
If an athlete is found to be misrepresenting himself or herself in any way it is not with impunity that they should be allowed to continue without some penalty being imposed.
There is a cloud of mismatched facts, loose ends, discrepancy, inconsistent stories and many unanswered questions in this saga.
I for one require more evidence.
From an earlier post on this story. Before 1973, birth certificates were unavailable and unreliable, all it took was an affidavit.
Even more, the availability of alternative registration documents such as affidavits, immunization cards and under five cards, which are legally acceptable in the absence of birth certificates, further weakens the case for birth registration. http://ssl.brookes.ac.uk/ubr/files/3/78-Zambia_Country_Report.pdf
“In Zambia, of the 1.9 million children under five years, over 90 percent (or about 1.7 million) do not have a birth certificate. The
situation is particularly worse in rural areas where only 6 percent of births are registered.” Page 6. “In 2004, Plan Zambia conducted a survey in three rural districts which revealed that less than 1% of over 2,000 children of primary school leaving age, had a birth certificate. Of the 491 adult respondents, comprising parents, teachers, medical personnel and Victim Support Unit (Zambia Police) officers, only 15 had birth certificates.”
You make some very fair points Matt B. Let’s hope all this clears up pretty quickly.
Clear or not I appreciate Douglas. His performance was a clarion call for me to step my game up. I am looking forward to NM and Sacramento yet totally impressed with his performance! I just pray that we can compete.
While a US passport is to be respected as proof of citizenship and date of birth, it is not an infallible or irrevocable document. Passports have been revoked or amended when conflicting evidence of the person’s place or date of birth was discovered.
In this case, conflicting evidence including a prior US passport exists, so I hope they will sort out the conflicting evidence before ratifying the record, rather than just accepting the information in his current US passport with no questions asked.
Io all’età di 37 anni ho realizzato il mio personal best in 46,86; all’età di 40 anni ho corso in 47,82; all’età di 43 anni ho corso in 48,95 indoor; all’età di 44 anni in 49,22…
Passati i 45 anni il mio fisico ha iniziato ha perdere velocità, nonostante abbia corso in 50,27 e sfiorando il record di Fred Sowerby! Il record è suo, 50,20! Io mi sto preparando per cercare di superarlo con duri allenamenti e non ammetto che il Sig. Douglas Kalembo posso batterlo avendo una età anagrafica diversa. Gli anni passano per tutti, se lui ha corso a 28 anni, come sostiene, in 46,89, non può correre dopo 22 anni con soli 3″ di differenza..questo significa per lui avere un personal best di almeno 44″. Il mio record sui 400mt m40 lo ho tolto al grande Lee Evans, che corse in Città del Messico in 43,88….Doglas getta la maschera…
I to the 37 year-old age have realized my personal best in 46,86; to the 40 year-old age I have raced in 47,82; to the 43 year-old age I have raced in 48,95 indoor; to the 44 year-old age in 49,22. Spent the 45 years my physicist has begun has lose speed, despite has raced in 50,27 and grazing the record of Fred Sowerby! The record is his 50,20! I am preparing me to try to overcome him/it with hard trainings and I don’t admit that the Sig. Douglas Kalembo can beat having him/it a different registry age. The years pass for everybody, if he has raced to 28, as it sustains, in 46,89, you/he/she cannot race after 22 years with alone 3. of difference..this means for him to have a personal best than at least 44.. My record around 400mt m40s I have removed him/it from the great Lee Evans, that raced in the City of Mexico in 43,88….
DOUGLAS THROWS THE MASK!
I would love to believe that Douglas has run 49.85 at the age of 50 but I but I go along with Enrico he says it means that he has only slowed by 3 seconds in 22 years.
I run my fastest race last year as a master athlete at the age of 49 and 9 months old running 53.31s
A differential from my best which I ran at the age of 17 Y.O.A of 6 seconds.
As many have said If he was an international athlete there should be records showing him competing from the age of 18 to 28 years of age. You can’t just appear on the scene and run in the Olympics at 28. There has to be some history from 1978 to 1988 showing athletic achivements.
It would be nice to enter a more mature athlete in our team to have a better chance on making the finals in the Olympics. Hint…..By the way, America looks good for the older you are for taxpayer benefits. Hint….This has been going on in the non-athletic arena before 1988. Fact…Records are proven not accurate or non-existent in 3ed world countries. Esp before 88. I hope he is how hold he says. Lets face it, Proof is something he has no control over I think. Its either there or not there. Since he ran so fast I am sure they found a way to get him on their National team just over the cut-off age. That is also another possibility. Where is the stuff before 88. The stuff that is not possibly fabricated? Not there? That answers the doubt question.
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