India grapples with 'endemic' age-fraud menace in sports

India faces a persistent issue of age fraud in sports, according to experts and legal professionals. This problem is particularly prevalent at the sub-junior and junior levels, where the rewards are greatest and scrutiny is minimal. The source cites the disqualification of 500 wrestlers from India's under-17 championships in June as a recent example of this endemic issue.

This is not the first instance; less than a year ago, about 20 teams were expelled from India's top schools football tournament, the Subroto Cup, for fielding overage players.

Several factors contribute to this problem. India's chaotic birth registration system and lack of a centralized database for athletes make it easier for unscrupulous parents and coaches to exploit. Age fraud can provide athletes with significant advantages, such as scholarships, sponsorships, fame, and even lucrative contracts in the Indian Premier League. The source highlights the case of Vaibhav Sooryavanshi, a talented cricketer who made his international debut at 15 but faced doubts about his age online.

The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) has taken steps to combat age fraud, including mandatory bone density tests since the age of 8 for players in BCCI-approved tournaments. Other sports federations, such as those for football and tennis, have also adopted similar testing methods. However, the source suggests that the TW3 method, used to assess skeletal maturity, is not a silver bullet. It is only effective up to around the age of 16 and can incorrectly flag naturally early-maturing teenagers as overage.

Experts argue that the current system is inadequate to prevent age fraud. The Indian Sports Ministry has drafted a code against age fraud in sports, which includes the creation of a central, digitally locked database and the combination of various examinations to verify athletes' ages. The proposed code also includes criminal deterrence and an amnesty window for athletes to correct records without punishment.

However, the source emphasizes that the legal deterrence must be consistently enforced and that young athletes should be treated as victims, not perpetrators, of age fraud.