The University Sports Association (GUSA) is set to introduce an upper age limit for athletes and players competing in future GUSA competitions.

From 2020/21 academic year, students who are above 25 years will not be eligible to represent their Universities in the GUSA sanctioned events.

A student must be born after the year 1995 to be eligible.

The new rule however will not affect the 2020 GUSA Games to be held in Accra.

According to Mr. Tanko Ibrahim, the GUSA Technical Committee Chairman who doubles as the Director of Sports of the University of Development Studies, the Executive Committee of GUSA envisages that this rule will become the norm for subsequent GUSA Games in order to allow younger athletes and players to compete.

He added that the GUSA Exercise do not intend to rush the introduction of the rule.

He revealed this in an exclusive interview, ahead of the GUSA General Assembly meeting scheduled for tomorrow at the University of Professional Studies, Accra.

The International University Sports Federation (FISU), which GUSA is member of, currently has the upper age limit of 25 years for only archery athletes, and this 25years upper age limit rule will take effect this July during the 30th edition of the Summer Universiade in Napoli, Italy.

At the previous Universiade in Taipei in 2017, athletes could be aged between 17 and 28.

Age cheating or overage athletes remains one of the teething ethical challenges confronting the Sports movement, especially in Africa.

One can only expect other National Governing Bodies for the various Sporting disciplines to emulate this in the coming years.

By: Nii Adokwei Codjoe