The DR Congo Football Federation has slapped a one-year ban on striker Meschack Elia on grounds of fraud for falsifying his age in an attempt to join another club without the knowledge of his parent club.
The forward is under contract with African giants TP Mazembe but earlier disappeared without asking for permission.
It was later uncovered that he had travelled to Belgium to have trials with RSC Anderlecht ahead of a transfer to the side in the last transfer window.
Following a series of in-depth in investigation by the DR Congo Football Federation, it has been revealed that Elia changed his year of birth in a new passport from 1996 to 1997 to enable him to join the Swiss side Young Boys without the knowledge and consent of TP Mazembe.
The football authorities have now arrived at a decision to ban Meschack Elia from all football related activities for the next 12 months.