Crackdown on age-fraud

By Raziuddin Ahmed (international badminton coach)
In a bold and much-needed move, the Pakistan Sports Board (PSB) has announced a landmark policy to tackle one of the most persistent and damaging issues in Pakistani sports: age fraud among junior athletes. This directive mandates strict age verification procedures for all U-21 athletes representing Pakistan in international events — a step that, as an international badminton coach and long-time advocate against age manipulation, I view as both timely and transformative.
The PSB’s recent notification makes it compulsory for all National Sports Federations to submit verified proof of age for their junior players. These documents must include scientific assessments such as the Radiology Test (TW2) and Dental Age Assessment using the Demirjian Method. Any federation or athlete found guilty of submitting false or tampered records will face disciplinary action — a clear signal that the era of age fraud must come to an end.
This is a subject close to my heart. Since 2018, I have publicly voiced my concerns regarding age manipulation in sports. I was among the first to highlight the problem across print, electronic, and digital media platforms, and I did so not just as a coach, but as someone committed to fairness and meritocracy in sport.
One of the most glaring examples occurred during the 2018 National Junior Badminton Championship in Lahore. Based on my observations, nearly 98% of participants were overage for the junior category. Many submitted falsified birth certificates or altered NADRA Form-B documents. Their physical appearances alone betrayed the truth. In that tournament, only players from Balochistan appeared to be genuinely within the eligible age bracket. Sadly, most of the overage athletes hailed from KP, Punjab, and Sindh — a fact I brought to light in the press at the time.
But this problem extends far beyond badminton. Cricket, squash, football, and hockey also suffer from this toxic culture of age fabrication. In many cases, sports federations have chosen to remain silent — either to protect connected athletes or due to internal favoritism. This malpractice not only damages the careers of genuine athletes but also erodes Pakistan’s credibility on the international stage.
The PSB’s decision is more than a policy change — it is a powerful message of accountability. It assures honest athletes and coaches that merit will be recognized and protected. It also marks a turning point in the fight for fairness in Pakistani sports.
I fully support this initiative and commend the Pakistan Sports Board for its courage and clarity. If implemented with consistency and integrity, this move will lay the foundation for a new era of transparency, discipline, and pride in our national sports.