ISLAMABAD: The Pakistan Sports Board announced on Monday stringent new measures to combat age fraud in junior-level contests, terming it a serious breach of its ethics code.

The PSB mandated that all athletes under the age of 21 participating in junior events must now submit either a National Identity Card or a B-Form. Additionally, they must provide the names of the selection committee members involved in their selection, along with dental examinations and radiological tests.

According to a PSB notification, comprehensive medical reports verified by the president and secretary general of the relevant sports federation, plus all supporting documents, must be submitted to the PSB for verification.

The board stated that any athlete found submitting fake or suspicious documents will be declared ineligible for participation in PSB training camps, financial assistance or cash awards. Further disciplinary action may also follow.

Highlighting the severity of the issue, the PSB underscored that age fraud at the junior level creates unfair competition, jeopardizes athletes` physical safety and undermines sports integrity.

The notification pointed to cases where athletes allegedly participate in age-specific categories using forged documents, depriving genuine athletes of opportunities and increasing injury risks due to physical mismatches.

The PSB further noted that international bodies, including the International Olympic Committee, have stressed the need for transparency in sports, advocating a zero-tolerance stance on age falsification.-Sports Reporter