Draft National Code against Age Fraud in Sports 2025 (NCAAFS-2025)
iasparliament
March 19, 2025
Why in News?
The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has put in the public domain the Draft National Code against Age Fraud in Sports (NCAAFS) 2025 for inviting comments/suggestions from the general public and stakeholders.
It Addresses Age Fraud, Protects Genuine Athletes and Uphold Sports Integrity.
Aim
Ensure fair competition by preventing age fraud, which compromises the integrity of sports.
Implement a robust verification system for age determination through a centralized 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.
Features of NCAAFS 2025
Mandatory Age Verification & Digital Locking - All athletes must submit 3 mandatory documents during the registration process to prevent any future manipulations.
Medical Examination for Age Discrepancies-Medical examinations will utilize the TW3 method, MRI scans, and general physical and dental examination.
Further, AI-based bone assessments to accurately determine an athlete's age will be done in pilot phase.
Any disputes arising from these examinations may be appealed through designated appellate medical panel for further review.
Uniform Penalties for Violations - Strict penalties will be enforced for age fraud violations.
Athletes found guilty on the first violation will face a 2-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.
Whistle-blower Mechanism - A secure and confidential platform will be created for stakeholders to report cases of age fraud anonymously.
Additionally, a reward system will be implemented to encourage and incentivize whistle-blowers to come forward with genuine reports.
Amnesty Program for Self-Disclosure - A one-time amnesty window of 6 months will be provided, allowing athletes to voluntarily declare their correct age without penalties.
Two-Tier Appellate Mechanism - A two-tier appellate mechanism will handle disputes related to age determination.
Athletes dissatisfied with initial medical examination findings may first appeal to the Regional Appellate Panel.
If still unsatisfied, athletes may approach the Central Appeals Committee (CAC).
Role of Integrity/Compliance Officers - Integrity/Compliance Officers will be appointed by the National Sports Federations (NSFs) for each competition, and are responsible for ensuring strict adherence to the provisions of the Code.
Dedicated National Database - Portal linked with the National Sports Repository System (NSRS) will be established to securely store all age verification data of athletes.
QR-Enabled ID Cards - Following successful verification, athletes will receive ID cards embedded with QR codes.
Public Accountability & Transparency- A robust monitoring framework will be established to ensure effective implementation of the Code.
The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports will oversee compliance by requiring NSFs and the Sports Authority of (SAI) to regularly submit detailed compliance reports.
It will be applicable to all athletes, coaches, officials, administrators, and support personnel involved in recognized
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.
