Draft National Code against Age Fraud in Sports 2025 (NCAAFS-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.

References

1. PIB - NCAAFS-2025
2. The Indian Express - NCAAFS, 2025