Junior National Athletics: 200 overage athletes disqualified
200 athletes were disqualified for being over age on the first day of the registration and age verification checks for the 24th National Junior Athletics Championships (November 12-16, 2008) being held in Mysore. And this is not the end. The process is not yet over and many more are expected to be disqualified in the coming days.
In India, normally, athletes are allowed to participate if they produce their Xth standard certificate or a bonafide certificate from the Head of the Institution where they are studying. Only in the case of any suspicion is a medical test done. There was only one doctor available to do the medical tests for a national level meet. And this guy alone rejected 200. Wonder what would have happened if more doctors were available and everyone was put through the scanner.
Our utter disregard for the sanctity of age group restrictions is shocking. Why should we even bother with such events if this how they will be organized?
Update (November 13, 2008): After the overage issue, the Athletics meet has been rocked by fake identity cards which resemble the ones issued by the Athletics Federation of India (AFI). Those who have AFI cards don’t have to undergo age verification and several athletes have taken advantage of this using fake identity cards.
Update (Novenber 22, 2008): Anoop PK, the fastest athlete at meet and winner of the 100m title (boys under 20) has also been disqualified for being overage. This time around the officials simply claimed that “The boy is an orphan and the date of birth records may not be correct”. AFI appointed doctor first came to the came to the conclusion on the eve on the event after ‘having a close look at Anoop’s facial features’. Anoop was allowed to compete after protests from the Kerela athletes. It is unclear whether proper medical tests have been performed since, but per the AFI website, Anoop’s name in the winners column has been replaced with Karnataka’s GN Boppanna.
I know cases where even the SSLC certificates were cooked.
This junior /senior scene should be sobered down. I think its hightime we focus more on the US model of school/collegiate sports. That might stop this stupidity.
You’ll also be surprised to note that many of them use performance enhancing drugs at junior level.
The hardwork / risk is purely for a medical seat or an eng seat in leading univs under sports quota
this happens only in india. am reminded of the incident (in the previous asian games or commonwealth games i think) where an indian male athlete was entered into the women’s draw and was later caught.
WTF, I just read today’s ToI and it says that the athletes who were declared overage by the doctor will be allowed to participate as long as they are willing to undergo medical tests at a later stage.
They could also try doing the medical tests telephonically or through video conference. I know I am going crazy.