BAI Tries to Eradicate the Age Fraud : Insights of Voluntary Age Rectification Scheme (VARS) and SOP

BAI (Badminton Association of India) has taken a commendable step by introducing the Voluntary Age Rectification Scheme (VARS) andStandard Operating Procedure (SOP) to eradicate age fraud in badminton. Age fraud is a common problem in Indian sports where players manipulate their age to gain an advantage over their peers in junior categories.

BAI alarms both genuine and age fraud players to keep the documents handy specified by the case types of SOP

Under the VARS scheme, players can voluntarilysubmit their documents for age verification to the BAI, which will include a birth certificate, passport or school certificate. In addition, players who have already represented their state or participated in a national event can also voluntarily opt for age rectification if they suspect that their age is incorrect on their records. The BAI has set a deadline for players to submit their documents for age verification, which will help in maintaining transparency and fairness in the sport.

The circulars of Age Manipulation: BAI Standard Operating Procedures and Voluntary Age Rectification Scheme (VARS) for the discrepancy in age records of registered players explain the mechanisms proposed by BAI.

Decreased No. of entries, increased No. of Walkovers, BAI Rank of the last Main draw player of the events of Sub Junior Tournaments are compared. (Recently concluded Jaipur, Febraury 2023, upcoming Panchkula, June 2023, and Lucknow, June 2023 are compared).

SOP and VARS systems proposed by the BAI are successful now and started working. Plenty of suspect full players are resisting to participate in the upcoming BAI Sub Junior tournaments in the fear of guilt and penalties.

SOP execution will identify the fake documents through rigorous background verification processes and the players will be penalized.

SOP and VARS are executed to prevent the age fraud players to steal the opportunities and make the fair competition in national level sub junior and junior circuit. There are certain scenarios on which the players and parents should give attention.

Scenario 1: Age fraud player with below average performance

Such players will not take the attention and agitation of the co players or parents.

Scenario 2: Genuine Player with below average performance

Such players will not take the attention and agitation of the co players or parents.

Scenario 3: Age Fraud player with high performance in Main draws

These players will take the attention and agitation of the co players or parents. Age Fraud complaints may be lodged on them. Age fraud player may be ready with required manipulated documents handy as per the case types defined by the SOP. SOP execution will identify the fake documents through rigorous background verification processes and the players will be penalized. Please read more to know about the penalties and background verification process.

Scenario 4: Genuine player with high performance in Main draws

Some times, age fraud complaint may be raised on the genuine players too. Even though you are genuine, it is your responsibility to maintain the required documents for your case type specified in the SOP. If you are not able to produce sufficient documents and even though you are genuine, you may face the penalties.

It is the responsibility of the player, both genuine and fraud, parent to have the sufficient genuine documents handy to defend the complaints lodged on them.

Sources are saying that after the agitation received during the Jaipur Sub Junior Tournament in February 2023, to verify the complaints received without evidences, BAI already employed and is practising the background verification process with schools, health centers, hospitals, parents' employers and more to get the data to verify the genuinity of the proofs submitted during the BAI ID application and the enquiry faced by the players who were claimed as age fraud. This process is alerting the age fraud players that anybody can complaint against them without proofs, and BAI committee will execute both, complaints with and without evidences, with equal importance.

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The SOP aims to create

• a fair player registration mechanism (New Players),

• a grievance redressal mechanism for age fraud complaints on existing players, and

• a penalty mechanism for whom violate the code against age fraud.

Features of the SOP include,

• Online system for BAI ID creation and supporting documents submission

• Outsourced third-party verification agency support for the BAI office & Age Fraud Committee

• The cost for the verification process is charged to the player whose birth certification registration is delayed more than a year or whose birth is not at the hospital.

• District/State Associations should process the New BAI ID applications in a month period.

• Documents verified at District / State will be reauthenticated by BAI before issuing the BAI ID.

• Players are classified into 6 Case Types

  1. Case Type A1 : Born at the Hospital and Birth Registration within 1 year from the Date of Birth

  2. Case Type A2 : Born in other places than a Hospital and Birth Registration within 1 year from the Date of Birth

  3. Case Type B1 : Born at the Hospital and Birth Registration after 1 year from the Date of Birth

  4. Case Type B2 : Born in other places than a Hospital and Birth Registration after 1 year from the Date of Birth

  5. Case Type C1 : Adopted Child

  6. Case Type D1 : Foreign-Born Nationals / NRI

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• When can be age fraud complaints lodged and by whom?

  1. Complaints received by the Organising secretary during tournaments

  2. Complaints received by BAI anytime through Post Email any time by any player/parent / third person.

  3. Age Fraud Committee or BAI can register a complaint against any player at any time.

• Complaints can be considered with or without evidence.

• Time Line for the complaints received without evidence.

  1. Day 1: Age fraud Complaint received by BAI with complaint fee.

  2. Day 1: BAI acknowledges the receipt of the complaint.

  3. Before Day 8: BAI reports the complaint to the age fraud committee

  4. Day 9 to Day 15: Age Fraud Committee Investigation Period

  5. Day 16 to Day 30: Time to reply to the show cause notice received by the suspected player from BAI and to submit the supporting documents

  6. Day 31 to Day 60: Background Document Verification by BAI / Age Fraud Committee with the support of third-party verification agencies, Reporting of the findings, and penalty measures.

• VARS and Penalties:

  1. One-time Voluntary Age Rectification Scheme (VARS) Period: Window of 20 days - From 6th June 2023 to 26th June 2023. During the period, VARS submitted players can't participate in any tournament. BAI will process the VARS applications within 20 days.

  2. BAI IDs of players who have not availed VARS and were found guilty of age fraud will be inactivated for 2 years and banned to participate in any form of tournaments in India.

  3. FIR will be lodged initiated against and criminal proceedings will be initiated against parents/ persons involved in the fraud.

  4. Players who have already availed of VARS, but indulge in age fraud again will be banned from playing for 5 years upon confirmation of fraudulent activities.

  5. Rankings, medals, prizes won or sponsorships received will be stripped off.

It is the responsibility of individual player, parent, or coach to ensure fair competitions and equal opportunities for every one by understanding and obeying the SOP and VARS.

The Standard Operating Procedure (SOP) has been established to outline the process for age verification and rectification, ensuring that the process is streamlined and executed in a systematic manner. The SOP ensures that all players receive a fair opportunity to rectify their age, and that the BAI takes a consistent approach to the verification process.

The introduction of VARS and SOP is an important step in addressing the issue of age fraud in Indian badminton. It will lead to a more competitive and equal playing field, fostering a healthy and fair sporting environment for all athletes. The BAI's efforts to eradicate age fraud will also help in building greater credibility and respect for the sport, encouraging more youngsters to take up badminton and pursue it as a career.