Investigation of Chinese gymnasts' ages at 2000 Games

Echoes · #1 09-24-2008, 02:20 PM

Investigation of Chinese gymnasts' ages at 2000 Games

ESPN - Inquiry into Chinese gymnasts' ages broadens to include 2000 Games - Gymnastics

Quote:

Yang's birthdate is listed as Dec. 2, 1984, which would have made her eligible for Sydney because she would turn 16 during 2000. But Yang, who also won a bronze medal on uneven bars, said in a June 2007 interview that aired on state broadcaster China Central Television that she was 14 at the Sydney Olympics.

Dong's birthdate is listed as Jan. 20, 1983, making her 17 at the time of the Sydney Games. Her blog, however, includes a reference to being born in 1985.

This is pretty sad if true, and I think action needs to be taken against China. This isn't like athletes using steroids where they get their medals stripped. The Chinese government would have to be helping these gymnasts get valid passports and birth certificates with false information, so I think China should be banned from the next Olympics if they're able to prove anything.

icegoat63 · #2 09-24-2008, 02:35 PM

I agree, if they find out about that I really do hope the medals are stripped and China as a country are punished. Its simple rules to follow, and I'm a firm believer in a broken rule = a consequence.

padd · #3 09-24-2008, 02:41 PM

same here, just because they are CHINA they should follow the olympic rules just like everyone else, as consequence China should be punished, end of story; they cheated.

ysabel · #4 09-24-2008, 02:56 PM

I can't imagine China being banned from the Olympics out of this, but their gymnastics team could be.

Constantine · #5 09-24-2008, 03:03 PM

Yeah I was going to say what ysabel said. I can't see them being banned as a country but they may miss out on the gymnastics portion.

Babe_Ruth · #6 09-24-2008, 03:05 PM

I agree with everyone that they should be punished if found guilty, but there's no way that all the Chinese athletes should be banned from competeting in the next Olympics.

micfranklin · #7 09-24-2008, 03:06 PM

At the very least they need to have their medals taken away.

Blueyes · #8 09-25-2008, 05:28 AM

Every time the Olympics role around China is at the butt of some age conspiracy because they have done it before, they continue to do it and most likely in the future too so unless the Olympic committee actually does something none of it will matter except that other countries will start trying the same dishonest things.

Babe_Ruth · #9 10-01-2008, 01:28 PM

FOX Sports on MSN - Olympics - 2008 team cleared, 2000 gymnasts under scrutiny

This years Chinese Gymnast team have been cleared and were old enough to compete, but the 2000 team is still under investagation. I personally don't believe that every Gymnast on that Chinese National Team were 16 and older.

Echoes · #10 10-01-2008, 01:29 PM

I don't believe it either, but I guess there was no proof. What a shame.

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