Lok Sabha Question No. 861 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-03-01
Subject: Problem of Age Fudging
Ministry: YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS
Asked by: POONAM  MAHAJAN

## 861.

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA (DEPARTMENT OF SPORTS)

## MINISTRY OF YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 861 TO BE ANSWERED ON 01-03-2016

## Problem of Age Fudging

## SHRIMATI POONAM MAHAJAN:

## Will the Minister of YOUTH AFFAIRS AND SPORTS be pleased to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  taken  cognizance  of  the  persistent problem  of  age  fudging  indulged  by  teenagers  who  participate  in under-14, under-16, under-19 and under-22 sports  tournaments organized  in  the  country  and  abroad  and  if  so,  the  details  thereof including the number of complaints received by the Ministry during each of the last five years, year-wise and discipline-wise;
- (b) the  action  taken  by  the  authorities  against  the  offenders  and  the steps  taken  to  make  the  age  verification  process  of  teenage sportspersons as stringent as possible; and
- (c) whether the Government has adopted Tanner-Whitehouse 3 method (TW3) to determine the age of teenagers, if so, the salient features of TW-3 method and if not, the details of other methods adopted by the Government to verify the age of teenagers?

## ANSWER

THE MINISTER OF STATE (INDEPENDENT CHARGE) FOR

## YOUTH AFFAIRS & SPORTS (SHRI SARBANANDA SONOWAL)

- and (b):  Madam,  promotion  and  development  of  specific  sports disciplines  is  mainly  the  responsibility  of  the  National  Sports Federations  (NSFs)  concerned  which  are  either  societies  or bodies  corporate.    The  Government  does  not  interfere  in  their day-to-day  affairs  which,  inter-alia,  includes  holding  of  sports
- (a) events, selection of players, age certification, etc.

The Government took cognizance of the problem of age fudging, indulged in by teenagers in age restricted tournaments way back in  2009-10 and issued guidelines named 'National Code Against Age Fraud in Sports' (NCAAFS) in 2010 with a view to eliminating age fraud and ensuring fair play by sportspersons in age restricted  tournaments.    The  NCAAFS  provides  for  mandatory medical and scientific examination of all sportspersons participating on the first occasion for any age restricted tournament and issuing  of  an  I-card  which  will  remain  valid  for participation in subsequent events.

During  the  recent  past,  complaints  regarding  age  fraud  in  the sports of Badminton, Chess and Volleyball were received.  Such complaints  are  dealt  with  by  the  concerned  NSFs  in  terms  of guidelines issued by the Ministry and the complaints received in the Ministry are also forwarded to the concerned NSFs and SAI for  taking  appropriate  action  in  terms  of  the  guidelines  in  this matter. Year-wise and sport discipline-wise data is not maintained in the Ministry.

(c)  As  per  the  Code,  General  Physical  Examination,  Dental Examination, Radiological Examination/MRI/CT Scan (as applicable) are required to be conducted for determining the age range of the player.  There is no specific mention of TW3 method in the code for determining the age of teenagers.

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