Fake birth certificates: WFI suspends 11 wrestlers

New Delhi: The Wrestling Federation of India (WFI) has suspended 11 grapplers for submitting fake birth certificates after the Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) verified 110 such documents and maintained that there was no lapse on its part as 95 delayed registrations were done only on the orders of the SDM.

The sport of wrestling has been grappling with two major issues: Overage wrestlers competing in lower age-group competitions and many trying to represent a state different from their domicile after procuring fake birth certificates.

In some cases, the certificates have been issued as late as 12-15 years after the birth of the child. Suspecting foul play, WFI provided the MCD with a list of certificates for verification. The MCD upon verification replied to WFI that it indeed issued birth certificates but maintained that the delayed registration (registration after one year of birth) is not done directly by it but under the orders of the SDM.

In several competitions, especially at the trials to pick the national junior teams, it is apparent that many wresters have entered lower age groups and hold an advantage over their genuine rivals.

Since Haryana is the hotbed of wrestling, the competition is very stiff and making the state team has become tougher by the day.

Keen to make a career in wrestling, many athletes try to come through neighbouring state Delhi by procuring fake certificates.

The WFI noticed that though many wrestlers were originally from Haryana, they somehow managed to get birth certificates issued by the MCD, so that they could enter the competitions through Delhi.

Providing the status of certificates, a copy of which is with the PTI, the MCD replied that, “95 birth certificates have been issued by the Municipal Corporation of Delhi only after getting orders from the Sub-Divisional Magistrate and there is no lapse on the part of the MCD.” The MCD in its reply also mentioned that 11 certificates are fake/photoshopped/edited and are not issued by it.