Nigeria introduces new penalties to fight against age cheating in sports
By Abdulgafar Oladimeji
Nigeria’s National Council on Sports has issued strict warning against perpetration of age cheating in sports activities, warning that severe penalties awaits defaulters.
The council during its meeting held at the Kashim Shetima hall, in Calabar, on 28 November, said it has approved the institution of appropriate sanctions against age cheat offenders in national sports competitions , namely National Youth Games, NYG, School Sports competitions.
The body in an communique issued at the end of its meeting has admonished sports stakeholders to adhere to the rules of age verification procedures that regulates age graded national competitions.
The council cautioned that Athletes caught in the act would be slammed with Immediate disqualification, adding that the medals won by the affected athletes would be withdrawn, adding that others sanctions may include points reductions and the revoking of records set defaulters and their rankings.
According to the council, athletes caught to have violated the age rules would be suspended , stating that first time offenders will bag the minimum of one year suspension,, then warned that habitual offenders would attract permanent ineligibility, depending on severity.
The sanctions would be extended to culpable coaches, team officials, and officiating officials:
Sating that official detected to have conspired to commit the act of age cheating would face sanctions that ranges between the Issuance of a formal warning;, the suspension of their licences for the duration between one to three years, alongside their possible Immediate removal from official duties and their likely permanent disqualification for serious or repeated violations .
The communique signed by the chairman, National Sports Commission, NSC, Shehu Dikko said that “ that age cheating undermines the integrity of sports and denies genuine athletes the fair opportunity to compete.
