What is the draft against age fraud from Sports Ministry? What is the punishment for fudging age?
The Sports Ministry, on Thursday, put the Draft National Code Against Age Fraud in Sports (NCAAFS) 2025 in the public domain for comments/suggestions.
“This addresses age fraud comprehensively, aiming to protect genuine athletes and uphold the integrity of sports competitions nationwide,” the Ministry said in a release.
“This revision has been undertaken almost after 15 years marking a significant update to the existing framework to ensure fair competition, ethical governance, and enhanced accountability in Indian sports.”
What is the aim of the Draft?
- Ensure fair competition by preventing age fraud
- Implement a robust verification system for age determination through a centralised database.
- Introduce strict penalties for athletes, coaches, and officials found guilty of falsifying age records.
- Enhance transparency and accountability in sports governance by aligning with international best practices.
What features does the Anti-Age-Fraud draft have?
- Mandatory age verification and digital locking
- Medical examination for age discrepancies
- Uniform penalties for violations
- Whistle-blower mechanism
- Amnesty program for self-disclosure
- Two-tier appellate mechanism
- Role of integrity/compliance officers
- Dedicated national database
- QR-Enabled ID cards
- Public accountability and transparency
Who will this Draft be applicable to?
Daft NCAAFS will apply to all athletes, coaches, officials, administrators, and support personnel involved in recognised National Sports Federations (NSFs), Sports Authority of India (SAI), Sports Control Boards managed by Central Government departments and Central Public Sector Undertakings (PSUs) and NGOs, NSPOs, public/private agencies, and institutions promoting sports development.
The draft NCAAFS provides that States/UTs may either adopt this policy or use this as a model framework to develop their own policy for promoting uniformity nationwide.
What is the punishment for age fraud?
Athletes found guilty on the first violation will face a two-year ban from all competitions, along with forfeiture of any titles or medals won.
A second violation will result in a lifetime ban and initiation of legal proceedings under the penal code.
Coaches and other officials found guilty will also face suspension and debarment from their roles.
However, a one-time amnesty window of six months will be provided, allowing athletes to voluntarily declare their correct age without penalties.
Athletes who participate in this amnesty program will undergo a performance review and subsequently be reassigned to the appropriate age group.
Is the draft final and applicable now?
No, the Draft is now open for suggestions and comments till March 30. The suggestions can be e-mailed section.sp3-moyas[at]gov[dot]in.