The Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports has unveiled the Draft National Code Against Age Fraud in Sports 2025 (NCAAFS-2025) and is inviting public comments and suggestions.
This revised code aims to address age fraud comprehensively, protect genuine athletes, and uphold the integrity of sports competitions nationwide.
The new draft introduces a range of measures to ensure fair competition, ethical governance, and enhanced accountability. Key features include mandatory age verification through a centralized digital database, medical examinations using advanced methods, and AI-based bone assessments. The code also outlines strict penalties for age fraud violations, including two-year bans for first-time offenders and lifetime bans for repeat offenders.
Additionally, the draft code proposes a whistle-blower mechanism, an amnesty program for self-disclosure, and a two-tier appellate mechanism to handle age determination disputes. Integrity officers will be appointed to ensure compliance with the code, and a dedicated national database will securely store all age verification data.
The Ministry encourages stakeholders and the general public to submit their suggestions and comments by March 31, 2025. The draft code is available for review on the Ministry’s website.
