Age fraud by Uttar Pradesh native: Silver medalist Jyothi Upadhyaya banned from sports festival

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Kozhikode Pullurampara School student Jyothi Upadhyaya, who won silver medals in the senior girls' 100 and 200 meters races at the Kerala State School Sports Festival, has been banned from the sports festival for age fraud. The school and the coaches will also be warned. The action was taken after it was found that the Aadhaar card submitted for school admission by Uttar Pradesh native Jyothi was fake.

A hearing was held for the school and the child to provide an explanation. However, Jyothi, who left Kerala immediately after the competition, could not be contacted, said school sports organizer Harish Shankar. The ban was imposed after it was discovered that she had faked her age.

The child's date of birth in the Aadhaar submitted for school admission is May 4, 2007. She competed in the Under-19 category accordingly. However, Jyothi Upadhyaya was registered with the National Athletic Federation using a different Aadhaar. The school explained that admission was granted based on the Aadhaar submitted.