AFI to Take Legal Action Against Banned Athlete for Identity Fraud

AFI's Legal Steps Against Sachin Poswal

The Athletics Federation of India (AFI) is set to file a First Information Report (FIR) against Sachin Poswal, a banned athlete, for allegedly holding multiple Aadhaar cards that were used to obtain new athlete identification cards.

This decision follows a report by a local news outlet highlighting the case under the headline 'Banned athlete hoodwinks federation for third time.' The AFI's top officials discussed this matter during a meeting in New Delhi on Friday, where they also considered a decentralized training model for athletes.

Adille Sumariwalla, the former president of AFI and current spokesperson, confirmed that a formal complaint would be lodged with the police.

He expressed concerns about Poswal's identity, stating, 'Nobody knows his real name. He has changed his name multiple times, even altering his father's name. He is a cheat.'

Sumariwalla mentioned that Poswal has reportedly changed his Aadhaar cards several times, with some suggesting he may have as many as four. 'We are pursuing legal action. We will file an FIR soon and let the law take its course,' he added.

Additionally, the AFI plans to conduct an internal investigation to determine if Poswal received assistance from any staff member.

'We will also initiate an internal inquiry, which is a separate matter. He is currently untraceable. We have sent people to locations listed on his Aadhaar card. Let the police handle it,' he stated.

Poswal, who is serving a four-year suspension, recently participated in the National Junior (U20) Federation Athletics Championships 2025 under the alias Rachin Gujjar, competing in both the 1500m and 3000m heats.

He achieved a top finish in the preliminary Heat 1 of the 1500m with a time of 3:56.53 seconds but placed 16th in the 3000m. However, inquiries revealed that he was marked as disqualified in the 1500m results.

Known as Sachin, or Rachin, with a birth date of December 28, 2005, he has previously managed to compete in national events. Last June, he participated in the Delhi State Summer Athletics Meet, finishing fourth in the men's 1500m. In December, he competed in the U-20 8-kilometer run under the name Sachin Gurjar, securing third place in the Delhi State Cross-Country Championships, while also presenting a different birth date and father's name in his new identification.