The International Federation of Gymnastics (FIG) have concluded their five week investigation into the scrutinised ages of the Chinese gold medal-winning gymnastics team at the Beijing Games, however doubts continue to shroud their participation at Sydney in 2000.
Due to concerns about the wellbeing of young gymnasts, whose bodies are under huge stress when they reach the elite level, the FIG introduced a ruling in 1997 stating that athletes had to turn 16 during an Olympic year in order to compete at the Games.
Questions were raised throughout the Games about China’s squad of gymnasts with many critics suggesting some of the girls were as young as 14.
But the FIG announced earlier today that the Chinese gymnasts were not under-aged when competing during this year’s Games, and that the matter was now closed.
“Originals of official documents received from the Chinese Gymnastics Association, specifically passports, identity cards and family booklets or ‘Household Registers’, confirm the ages of the athletes,” FIG said in a statement.
While the FIG has cleared China, its team that won the bronze medal eight years ago still faces questions particularly over the ages of Dong Fangxiao and Yang Yun.
The statement continued: “The FIG does not consider the explanations and evidence provided to date in regards to these athletes as satisfactory.”
FIG general secretary Andre Gueisbuhler added that a fresh inquiry into the ages of the Sydney team would indeed take place in the future.
He said: “It will probably still take a while before we can unravel all the legal matters.
“We have the (statute of limitations), and you have applicable law is also a factor. If we want to remain credible, then we have to look into things.”
However, defending her innocence, Fangxiao said last week before the FIG’s announcement: “I’ve left the gymnastics team. But if the FIG wants to investigate this matter, I will provide every form of documentation.”
International Olympic Committee (IOC) President Jacques Rogue added: “There have been allegations.”
“The issue was that the Chinese authorities provided certificates and forms, and we have asked that these be checked – we want clarity.”
source: telegraph.co.uk
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October 1st, 2008 at 1:34 pm
How much money did the FIG get for this kind of response?
October 1st, 2008 at 1:57 pm
Maybe chinese girls are 4 years old when they are born
October 2nd, 2008 at 3:59 am
Don’t feel bad America. You guys still get the gold medal for being the best Olympic cheaters! You remember when over 100 of your athletes tested positive for banned substances in 1988, but your Olympic committee covered it up and let them compete anyway? Those guys ending up winning 19 medals and they all got to keep them. That was awesome! And remember that spectacular opening ceremony in the 2002 Salt Lake City Olympics? You know, the one where your country bribed IOC members so that the Olympics could be held there. My eyes just tear up remembering the beauty of that moment. Be proud America! Be proud that you can be such hypocritical bastards and not even realize it!
October 2nd, 2008 at 10:42 am
ON OLYMPIC DIVING, BY IVAN ERICKSON, AUTHOR OF “SONG OF THE STORM WINDS”:
Since some Olympic sporting events - such as boxing and wrestling - are paired by legal age and weight classifications, why couldn’t sports, such as Olympic diving, be classified according to weight and age, as well as by gender? This would allow the younger girls to compete legally! This way, the 16-year-old and over American girls would not have to whine about being beaten by 6-year old Oriental girls.
This is especially important in light of the emphasis that the judges put on rating the dive according to the angle at which the diver’s body enters the water, and especially as to the amount of splash created by the entry. It goes without saying that a slender, 6-year-old, 20-Lb. Chinese girl is going to create less splash than a 120 Lb. fat - butted American girl, even if the Chinese girl should perform a belly flop.
If this change were to take place, the height of the diving platforms could be lowered to protect the younger, lighter, still growing girls from injury.
Let us stop our quibbling, and be at peace with our beloved neighbors of all races, ethnicities, religions and faiths.
God bless you all.