Tuesday, March 15 2005 15:56 Hrs (IST) - World Time -

Dubai: : Launching a crackdown against trafficking of child jockeys, the UAE has imposed a ban on children under 16 years of age from competing in camel races, a favourite sport in the oil-rich Gulf nation for which kids, usually two to seven years old, are being smuggled mainly from South Asian countries.

Jockeys under 16 years of age will be banned from competing in camel races in the UAE with effect from March 31 2005, Sheikh Hamdan bin Zayed Al Nahyan, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of State for Foreign Affairs said.

"A law will be issued on March 31, 2005, prohibiting participation of jockeys whose age is less than 16 years old from participation in the camel races," Sheikh Hamdan told the Emirates News Agency.

The law would stipulate that the jockeys weight should not be less than 45kg while his age, according to passport, should not be less than 16 years.

Hamdan noted that a medical committee will conduct tests on all jockeys as part of pre-race handicapping. He called on the camel breeders, who employ children less than 16 years, as jockeys to return them to their countries.

"Violators of this shall face legal action. The Ministry of Interior will enforce the law in cooperation with the municipalities. The country's ports of entry are instructed to ensure that children whose ages are less than 16 will not enter for the purpose of being used as camel jockeys."

Young boys, in particular from Pakistan, Bangladesh and Sudan, are being smuggled to be used as jockeys for camel races because they are cheapest, weigh less and tend to scream louder at a higher pitch than most adults, causing camels to run faster.