It is a matter that has overshadowed African soccer for a few years – besides, the latest age-testing furore surrounding regional qualifiers for this 12 months’s Beneath-17 Africa Cup of Nations contained a touch of farce.
Forward of a scheduled five-team event in Cameroon, the Democratic Republic of Congo have been pressured to drag out on the final minute after 25 of 40 gamers have been judged to be overage following Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) scans.
Chad not less than made it to Cameroon earlier than being disqualified by in-tournament testing, whereas the hosts have been pressured to dismiss greater than 30 potential gamers who failed pre-tournament exams ordered by Samuel Eto’o, the previous Barcelona and Inter Milan striker who’s now president of the nation’s soccer federation (Fecafoot).
However chatting with BBC Sport Africa, a number one sports activities scientist, who has suggested nationwide soccer associations world wide, has questioned the one-size-fits-all software of the age-defining biomarkers offered by the exams, stating the saga should be a “watershed second”.
“What’s being measured by the MRI won’t be probably the most correct method of measuring that particular person’s age,” stated Dr Adam Hawkey, affiliate professor of sport science and human efficiency at Solent College Southampton.
“Until you are conducting common measurements of a person, at designated ages that you may show, and having that knowledge amassed over a time frame, then their biomarkers (might) present, by way of the information that is obtainable, that they’re older.
“Interventions must be put in place to know that particular person as an individual, not simply as a sports activities performer.
“There are some points and there are sympathies with a few of these gamers that might be 17 – but in addition some appreciation of the work that is being finished to make the game fairer,” he added.
“We’ve to make it possible for if we’re utilizing these measures to exclude gamers then they’re as correct as potential.”
Dr Hawkey isn’t the primary individual to query the exams – in 2013 Abuchi Obinwa was dominated out of a Nigerian under-17 aspect by an MRI regardless of having all of the related documentation from the USA to show his age.
How the check works
Soccer’s world governing physique, Fifa, launched MRI scans on the 2009 Beneath-17 World Cup which came about in Nigeria.
That call adopted years of accusations and allegations directed at African youth soccer.
MRI scans use magnetic fields and radio waves to penetrate the pores and skin, permitting medical professionals to see issues like bone and organs beneath.
On this occasion, the MRI appears to be like on the bones in a participant’s wrist, looking for biomarkers which can be produced, with the most typical one used to differentiate between age teams being the speed of fusion between the bone and its cartilage, a robust, versatile tissue that sits in joints so as to add a layer of safety.
An ‘alternative’ to enhance participant well being
Alongside his work with nationwide soccer associations, Dr Hawkey has additionally suggested numerous Olympic committees {and professional} our bodies about points referring to well being and efficiency, together with finishing up numerous exams on English Premier League footballers.
He believes this should be a get up name for sport on many fronts to encourage extra rigorous and common testing the world over – not simply in the case of age.
“There’s a possibility right here to make use of applied sciences, akin to MRI scans, to check a complete vary of different elements that relate to cardiac danger within the younger, in addition to coronary heart failure, and so on.
“It is no completely different than WADA (World Anti Doping Company) having to commonly take a look at the way in which they assess the influence of steroids or different efficiency enhancing medication.
“The folks concerned on this are people, they’re human beings.
“Not solely do we’ve got to take care of them, by way of their future careers, however we even have to make use of this know-how to determine any potential well being points which may come up.”
In 2003, midfielder Marc-Vivien Foe handed away after collapsing mid-match whereas taking part in for Cameroon. Certainly one of his teammates in that sport, Modeste M’Bami, just lately died after struggling a coronary heart assault at solely 40 years of age.
Foe’s tragedy was the primary high-profile instance however since then quite a few gamers have skilled coronary heart points on the sphere of play together with Manchester United’s Danish midfielder Christian Eriksen, now again taking part in after his collapse throughout a match at Euro 2020.
“We have a watershed second the place we’ve got the know-how, we’ve got the experience and the data, and it is simply ensuring that we do that in probably the most skilled method we are able to,” Dr Hawkey stated.
“There’s an actual accountability for golf equipment, nations and organisations like Fifa to make sure the well-being of all those who take part within the fantastic sport that’s soccer.”
The combat in opposition to age fraud
Dr Hawkey thinks the problem relating on to age testing isn’t one that may be solved in a single day as a result of complexities of the ageing course of.
However he totally backs the concept widespread testing ought to now start, utilizing it to increase a database of outcomes that’s at the moment extraordinarily small and unrepresentative of a various world populace.
“Sadly, at current there is not any single indicator that can be utilized as a gold customary to estimate the ageing course of,” stated the 45-year-old.
“Researchers during the last 50 years have tried to provide you with one check that matches throughout generations.
“The perfect we’ve got provide you with up to now is a type of organic age which mixes a number of biomarkers together with blood measurements, bone density and mathematical modelling.
“This must be dealt with very rigorously and in the mean time Fifa must work with the data that they have and they are going to must again themselves by way of what they’re doing within the scientific analysis they’ve finished.”
In the end, the abridged central zone qualifiers for the Beneath-17 Cup of Nations have been accomplished and noticed Cameroon and Congo-Brazzaville qualify for the finals in Algeria, with Central African Republic the one crew to overlook out.
Whether or not or not organisers can do something to keep away from related disruption forward of April’s 12-team event stays to be seen.
The BBC has approached Fifa, who have been unavailable for remark, and the Confederation of African Soccer (Caf) for statements.
