Eight Over-Age Athletes Detected at National Junior Athletics Championships
On the penultimate day of the 22nd National Junior U20 Federation Athletics Championships, eight athletes were reportedly found to be over the age limit. Their results have been withheld, and they have undergone bone tests at a local hospital.
In addition, an athlete who won a silver medal was discovered to have participated under a different name using a fake Aadhar card. An expert committee of the Athletics Federation of India (AFI) and the Uttar Pradesh Athletics Association (UPAA) is investigating these cases.
“Eight athletes have been found over age based on their certificates and physical appearances,” said PK Srivastava, CEO of UPAA. “Bone tests have been conducted, and the results are pending.”
“The results of these athletes will be released only after the bone test results are available. If any of them have qualified for the Asian Championships in Dubai next month, they will be allowed to participate only if they pass the tests,” he added.
AFI has implemented age verification measures for the U20 championships this year. The committee found that the eight athletes had manipulated their certificates and had different ages according to their Aadhar cards and other documents. They were allowed to participate temporarily, but their results are subject to the bone test outcomes.
National Records Set
Odisha’s Bapi Hansda set a meet record in the men’s 400m, clocking 46.90 seconds. Haryana’s Aarti won the women’s 10,000m race walk event with a national record time of 47:21.04. Both athletes have achieved the qualifying standards for the Asian Championships.
