CBA to run TW3 test to check age fraud

Deepankar Sharda

Chandigarh, June 29

Chandigarh Badminton Association (CBA) is going to be the first badminton association in the country to introduce the Tanner Whitehouse 3 (TW3) test after scrutiny of documents, for local shuttlers participating in the state championships.

Under the test, a digital X-ray of the left hand (palm and wrist/lower end of the forearm), is taken to determine the bone age and is termed the most successful method available to detect the cases of age fraud.

From this session, players participating in the CBA state championships, which are scheduled to start in August, have to undergo the TW3 test after the recommendation of a screening committee. An age-verification committee of the CBA will first assess the age verification documents of the players and will refer the players in question to undergo the TW3 test, if needed. The test will be mandatory for all junior and other (including already registered) players.

“Considering the increase in the number of age-fraud cases in badminton tournaments, we have decided to make the TW3 test mandatory for players. The cases of age fraud start at the junior level, so we are making it mandatory for all age groups, including the U-13, U-15, U- 17, U-19 and other players. This is for the benefit of all players, including those from Chandigarh. The record will also be submitted to the BAI for future references,” said Surinder Mahajan, Secretary, CBA, and Joint Secretary, Badminton Association of India (BAI).

The players found guilty of committing any age fraud will be banned for two or three years from the CBA as well as the BAI-affiliated championships. “The players found guilty of committing an age fraud will be directly banned for two or three years – as per the recommendation of the CBA’s disciplinary committee,” added Mahajan.

More than 500 players from Chandigarh participate in state championships of different age groups.

What is TW3 test

The TW3 method uses X-rays of the left hand and wrist to examine the skeletal maturity of a person to determine his or her bone age. In the wrist scan, age is estimated by looking at the bones initially separated by cartilage, but which progressively move closer to one another until they fuse into the mature wrist.

New ID cards

The association will also issue new identification numbers prior to the state championships. “The association will also issue new ID numbers to the players. For this purpose, the form will be made available at various coaching centres in the coming weeks. It will be mandatory for shuttlers of Chandigarh to register before participating in any event,” said Col Raj Parmar, senior vice-president, CBA.

Last chance to admit wrongdoing

The association is giving a last chance to defaulters who have tampered with their age proof. The identity of these defaulters will not be revealed. They will be allowed to play in the higher age group without facing any punishment, if they admit fraud in the coming weeks. — Surinder Mahajan, Secretary, CBA