title: Age estimation in competitive sports.
abstract: To maintain the principle of sporting fairness and to protect the health of athletes, it is essential that age limits for youth sporting competitions are complied with. Forensic scientists have developed validated procedures for age estimation in living individuals. Methods have also been published for age estimation in competitive sports. These methods make use of the ossification stage of an epiphyseal plate to draw conclusions about an athlete's age. This article presents published work on the use of magnetic resonance imaging for age estimation in competitive sports. In addition, it looks at the effect on age estimation of factors such as an athlete's socioeconomic status, the use of hormones and anabolic substances as well as chronic overuse of the growth plates. Finally, recommendations on the components required for a valid age estimation procedure in competitive sports are suggested.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Legal Medicine, University Hospital Münster, Röntgenstraße 23, 48149, Münster, Germany.
authors.forename: Maximilian
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Timme
authors.affiliation: Division Sports and Rehabilitation Medicine, University Hospital Ulm, Leimgrubenweg 14, 89075, Ulm, Germany.
authors.forename: Jürgen Michael
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Steinacker
authors.affiliation: Institute of Legal Medicine, University Hospital Münster, Röntgenstraße 23, 48149, Münster, Germany. andreas.schmeling@ukmuenster.de.
authors.forename: Andreas
authors.identifier: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0135-1617
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Schmeling
mesh_terms: D000365:Age Determination by Skeleton; D000366:Age Determination by Teeth; D056352:Athletes; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D004300:Doping in Sports; D004838:Epiphyses / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000254:growth & development*; D006728:Hormones / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D016348:Osseointegration; D012923:Social Class; D013177:Sports
chemical_list: D006728:Hormones
keywords: Age estimation; Competitive sports; Dental age; MRI; Skeletal age