Lying About Age in Sports: Why You Should Never do it
Legendary footballer Samuel Eto’o also became CFF President in 2021 and aims to tackle age-fraud in the game within his country.
Competitive sports can be fierce and the higher up you go, the more brutal it usually gets. Athletes do their best to gain an edge and emerge victorious. But there is a fine line between right and wrong which sometimes gets crossed.
Age fraud is one such scenario that is very common, especially in countries with weaker sports administration. It is very common in many different sports and certain parts of the world, like Africa and South Asia, these malpractices are highly prevalent. However, slowly more steps are being taken by sporting bodies in these regions to curb the issue.
Why do Some Athletes Lie about their Ages?
Many youngsters lie about their age to get sports scholarships at educational institutes.
Age fraud is most common in youth sports, where competitions have restrictions on who can compete based on how old they are. Some young athletes use deception by claiming to be younger than they actually are for a wide variety of reasons.
- It potentially gives them an unfair physical advantage over others in the same event (typically ones with age-restrictions) who may be honest about their age.
- Youngsters may also lie about age to get sports scholarships in colleges or other educational institutions with a good sports program.
- In some countries, government organizations or private companies have sports quota systems. They have sports teams where employees with good athletic skills can compete. Job-seekers can lie to improve their odds of securing these positions.
- Pressure from others in positions of greater authority can also influence young players to engage in age fraud. Sometimes, coaches or even administrators may pressure players, so their team gets an advantage over competitors.
- Some players may also lie about their age so they can extend their shelf-life in the game and even delay retirement.
The list of motives varies and sometimes authority figures may also be complicit in the deed.
Also Read: Retirement and Life Beyond for Professional Athletes
Potential Consequences of Engaging in Age Fraud
Lying about age when competing can have consequences for both the individual and, if it is a team sport, then for the group as well, to some degree. It can have a negative impact on your progress in the game.
Official Sanctions
If caught, then surely there will be action from governing bodies who are in charge of the event. The exact punishment will vary based on how big the event is, and the policies set by those in charge. Some sports bodies may offer stricter punishment than others for the same offense.
For example, Hockey India (the national governing body for hockey in the country) has strict rules against misrepresentation of age. Those found guilty can be banned for up to 2 years from participating in HI events. Other authorities have their own sanctions for the same.
Destroys Reputation
Competitors who are found guilty may have to face a lot of negative comments and could even be blacklisted in extreme cases. It may feel like the immediate sporting fraternity will never forget their mistakes.
If the offense occurs at a higher level of competition, then media scrutiny could follow, making it harder to escape the past. Sometimes, even after the player has learned from their mistakes and committed to changing themselves, those around them may still hold negative views.
Hinders Future Development
A lot of times, players who are caught up in these scandals may find it hard to get back into organized sport again. It can get demoralizing and even cause some players to quit the game altogether. Having a good support system around you always helps in these situations.
High-Profile Age-Fraud Scandals in Sports
Sometimes these controversies gain large-scale attention and even become a part of sports history and folklore. Even in high-level tournaments, you can find these malpractices occurring from time to time. It’s important to learn from the mistakes of others and avoid repeating them ourselves.
1. Kenya U-17 Soccer Team (2003)
In April 2003, the CAF (governing body for soccer in Africa) banned Kenya from participating in continental youth competitions for two years. The verdict was passed after it was proven that the squad had multiple overage players (some even above the age of 20!).
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Upon further investigation, many players revealed that members of the FKF knew of their real ages and even assisted them by providing falsified documents so they could gain clearance to participate in the tournament.
2. Chinese Basketball (2008)
In late 2008, the CBA came to discover that 26 players who were playing in their top-flight league had lied about ages during registration in the past. Further investigations were carried out and results were given to FIBA (the global governing body for basketball).
No additional action was taken by FIBA and the matter was left for the CBA to handle internally. The scandal did not have too many repercussions for the league in the end, but fans of the game were clearly shocked by the news. Plus, there have been other such scandals in Chinese basketball before and after this one too.
3. An IPL Player (2019)
Rasikh Salam became the third player from Jammu and Kashmir to play in the IPL. He was picked up by Mumbai Indians in 2019 and became the youngest player to debut in the history of the franchise that same season. But there was an unexpected twist to the tale.
Once his documents were examined, the authorities discovered discrepancies in birth certificates submitted by the player when registering for competitions. Salam was banned from competing for 2 years.
4. An ISL Player (2018/19 Season)
Jamshedpur FC’s Gaurav Mukhi scored against Bangaluru FC, and gained instant attention, being dubbed as the ‘Youngest Goal Scorer in ISL history’. It would have been a great story… if only it were true!
Many officials were suspicious about the player’s age, leading to a formal investigation by the AIFF. It was soon discovered that Mukhi had lied about his age! He was stripped of his record and banned from competing for 6-months.
Surprisingly, this isn’t the first time Mukhi has been caught faking his age, as there was an earlier scandal in 2015. It occurred during the Coca-Cola Cup U-15 category where he represented Jharkhand.
Measures that Can Help Reduce Age-Fraud in Sports
Eliminating the falsification of age needs to happen at all levels, starting from lower-tier tournaments all the way up to high-level ones. Governing bodies need to remain sharp, updated and vigilant while also learning from other countries that manage these issues well.
Digital Locking
Athletes need to submit multiple legitimate documents confirming their biodata and other relevant information. Details must remain consistent throughout each of these documents. Once all submitted papers or scanned copies are verified, details are stored in a secure digital database and “locked”. Any discrepancies with future documentation can now be detected and therefore punished.
The introduction of technology in sports administration ensures that authorities are better equipped to store and verify information on registered athletes effectively. Hence, sports bodies should take advantage of this and implement methods like digital locking.
Medical Tests
MRI Scans and other medical tests can help determine the actual age of athletes suspected of age fraud.
In case there is suspicion of age falsification, medical examinations using TW3 methods, MRI scans, general physical and dental exams, etc. can be conducted. Nowadays, AI-based bone assessments are also quite common and effective when it comes to verifying age.
Incentivizing Whistle-Blowers
Usually, there are by-standers that are aware of wrongdoing in age-fraud cases but choose to stay quiet. Many sporting bodies are now introducing programs that encourage whistle-blowers to report these cases. Identities are kept anonymous, and sometimes these individuals are even rewarded if allegations are found to be true.
Multi-Tier Appeal Systems
An accusation alone does not always mean one is guilty. Sometimes authorities may get the verdict wrong, which is why appeal mechanisms need to be in place. Generally, there should be multiple levels starting from regional ones and build up to a central one which is usually the highest.
If the accused is not satisfied with the verdict passed by lower levels, they can appeal to the level above it. However, once the matter reaches the highest tier, no further appeals are accepted and the verdict can no longer be challenged.
Advice to Competitive Athletes
While it may be tempting to take shortcuts and achieve immediate advantages, the risk is usually not worth it. If caught, the whole scandal can greatly derail your progress in sport, and even affect mental health.
Often times, perpetrators get influenced by others before choosing to commit the offense. They see other individuals doing and getting away with it and think it’s not that big a deal. Sometimes, senior figures or others in positions of authority like coaches may also influence their decisions.
Regardless, competitors must realize that they only have control over their actions and not those of others. It’s better to go slow but on the right path than try and take shortcuts that can end up harming you in the long run.
Conclusion
Lying about age is a common issue in many countries when it comes to sport. But with good initiatives by administrators, education of players and staff, appropriate penalties, etc., it can be curbed greatly. It’s important that merit prevails and corruption subsides for the betterment of all sports.
