Explained: How Indian government is planning to fight doping and age fraud issues among junior athletes

India's junior athletes who win medals in international events will reportedly not be awarded cash prizes by the government anymore, with the Sports Ministry making a notable shift in its policy.

According to a report in The Indian Express, this policy shift is done to keep track of the issues surrounding age fraud and doping, as well as in a bid to keep the "hunger of youngsters alive".

Sports Ministry reveals why this move has been made 

As per the old system, a gold medallist at the Junior World Championship would receive an approximate amount of Rs 13 lakh, whereas an athlete who finishes on top of the podium at the Asian or Commonwealth Games would receive Rs 5 lakh.

According to a Sports Ministry official, this change has been made to treat the junior championships as developmental events instead of making it about podium finishes.

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“We noticed that only India follows a model where junior championships are given over-importance. As a result, we have noticed that athletes work so hard at this level that by the time they reach the elite stage, they are either burnt out or have lost the hunger,” the official told The Indian Express.

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The awards policy for senior athletes has also been changed. The Commonwealth Championship and South Asian Games have been removed from the awards list events whereas chess players who earn International Master (IM) or Grandmaster (GM) norms won't receive incentives as well.

As an impact of shooter Manu Bhaker winning two bronze medals at the 2024 Paris Olympics, the Sports Ministry will now reward athletes and coaches on the basis of "each medal won" at the Olympics and World Championships. Apart from this, the academy or an Akhara where the athlete trains will also be eligible for awards.

Another aspect of the revised policy is the removal of a clause that barred the “spouse, father, mother, brother and sister” of an athlete from receiving the award.

One of the reasons which led to athletes and coaches committing age fraud and doping offences was cash incentives. As per National Anti-Doping Agency's report on 13 January, minors make up more than 10 per cent of dope offenders in India since 2022, which is 22 out of 204 athletes to be exact.

“It can be said that the cash awards are one of the reasons athletes are lured into adopting unfair means. Most of them come from humble backgrounds, so it is a case of high risk, high reward for them,” another official told the Indian Express.

The report adds that athletes who win tournaments like the All-England Badminton Championships or the Candidates Chess competition will be given the same cash prize as the winners of the World Championships due to the superior standard of competition.