As the date of Commonwealth games is coming closer the government is putting stricter norms for the participation in the games and to stop any kind of fraud. In the latest move the government has issued a guideline to check age fraud and advised all the federations including Indian Olympic Association (IOA) and Sports Authority of India (SAI) to treat age fraud on the same lines as anti-doping measures.

According the communication, released by the Ministry of Youth Affairs and Sports, both age fraud and doping amount to cheating and violates basic spirit of sports. The Ministry has also made it mandatory to produce athlete identity card, mentioning his name, age and other details, to participate in any state level and national games. This will come into effect from 1st February 2010. The Ministry has admitted that some incidents of age fraud had come into notice of the ministry during various tournaments and selection trials and said that that it is a matter of serious concern for the government. The Ministry has also said that a National code to check such frauds in sports would also be brought soon.

Meanwhile, the government has told all National sports federations to introduce a mechanism to provide identity cards, mentioning age, name and other details, after proper verification of certificates and medical examinations to check such kind of frauds. Those who are found guilty for such kind of frauds will be banned for two to five years.