The Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) on Monday announced new strict measures to suppress the “age fraud” in junior level sporting events (Sub-21), declaring that such acts are a serious violation of its code of ethics and governance in sports.
“The Pakistan Sports Board has stated that age fraud is a violation under the Code of Ethics and Government of Pakistan in sports and any act of this type is subject to sanctions,” reads a notification issued by the PSB, a copy that is available with Dawn.com.
“Worldwide, age fraud in sports, especially in Junior categories, raises a serious threat to fair competition, athletes’ safety and the integrity of sports structures,” added the notification.
The PSB said that youth sports worldwide are classified on the basis of the chronological age to guarantee equal opportunities and clean play, and added: “It is suspected that athletes participate in competitions restricted with age with falsified or inaccurate age documentation.”
The PSB continued that all athletes under 21 who participate in Junior events must now present a national identity card (CNIC) or a B form, together with the names of the members of the selection committee, dental exams and radiological tests.
In addition, the medical reports verified by the President and Secretary General of the respective Sports Federation, together with all the support documents, must be submitted to the PSB for verification.
The notification indicated that any athlete found to send false or suspicious documents will not be declared eligible to participate in training fields, financial assistance or cash awards. More disciplinary measures can also be taken.
The notification pointed out that some athletes supposedly participate in specific age categories using counterfeit documents, depriving genuine opportunities of opportunities and increasing the risk of injuries due to physical mismatches.
The PSB also pointed out that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and other world sports organizations have repeatedly emphasized the need for transparency and integrity in sports, which requires a zero tolerance approach for the falsification of age.
“Only athletes who present verified and precise documentation will now be eligible to participate in PSB training fields and receive financial support or cash awards,” the notification concluded.
Earlier this month, the PSB took a serious notification of officials in several sports federations that occupy positions beyond the two permissible terms, in violation of the National Sports Policy 2005.
The PSB issued warning letters to nine officers from different federations that have exceeded the permitted possession limits, according to a press release issued by the Board.
In May, Sindh’s Prime Minister Murad Ali Shah announced that Karachi would organize the 35th National Games from December 6 to 13 after he postponed his initial dates in May.
The games will be held from May 1 to 9 in Karachi, but postponed in April due to “inevitable circumstances”, according to an official letter issued by the Sindh Olympics Association.
