Odisha’s Junior Football Triumph Marred by Age-Fudging Allegations
Odisha’s historic qualification for the final of the Dr. BC Roy Trophy, the boys’ junior national football championship, has been overshadowed by allegations of age fudging. The tournament, which began in 1962, saw Odisha reach the final for only the third time. However, the achievement has been tainted by claims that the team fielded 12 overage players.
The Football Association of Odisha (FAO) has denied the allegations, but the All India Football Federation (AIFF) has launched an inquiry. The issue of age fudging is not new in Indian youth sports, with several state associations struggling to form squads for upcoming tournaments due to mandatory age tests.
The FAO has raised concerns that details of age tests conducted for the national under-15 league earlier this year were not shared with states. The association argues that it had no knowledge of the results of the TW3 (Tanner Whitehouse 3) tests, which estimate a person’s age through X-rays.
The AIFF has acknowledged that Odisha did not violate any rules for the BC Trophy, which did not require TW3 tests. However, the federation plans to introduce the tests from next year.
The FAO has also questioned why the allegedly overage players were allowed to register in the AIFF’s centralized registration system. The AIFF has admitted to teething problems in implementing the TW3 tests across youth leagues and states but is committed to reducing age fraud.
