National Code Against Age Fraud Policy Set For Cabinet Approval

The draft National Code Against Age Fraud in Sports (NCAAFS) 2025, which mandates penal action against violators and calls for Al-based bone assessments to accurately determine an athlete's age, is set to become a policy soon with the sports ministry planning to send it for cabinet approval next week.

- Press Trust of India

The NCAAFS was posted online for public feedback in March this year and a Sports Ministry source told PTI that the process is now complete.

Age fraud has been a massive problem in Indian sports at the youth and junior levels, where overage athletes have often been caught competing despite provisions for medical examination.

The revised code requires all aspiring as well as registered athletes to submit three mandatory documents for age verification -- birth certificate, Aaadhar Card/Voter ID/Passport/PAN card and School Leaving Certificate/ Matriculation Certificate.

The document verification will then be done by Sports Authority of India (SAI) and the National Sports Federations (NSFs). The ministry has not been maintaining a record of age fraud incidents so far.