IOC Wants Gymnasts' Ages Investigated

[dbackjon]

The IOC tells The Epoch Times new evidence warrants investigation

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) confirmed to The Epoch Times today that it has asked the International Gymnastics Federation to investigate the Chinese gymnastics underage fiasco, following new evidence that at least two gymnasts competed under the legal age in the Olympics.
After the initial dismissal of the claims, the IOC said in an email that there have been “additional elements on this subject.”

Emmanuelle Moreau, IOC’s Media Relations Manager in Beijing, said in an email to The Epoch Times that, “the IOC has therefore asked the International Gymnastics Federation to endeavour to find out more. We understand they are doing so immediately.”

http://en.epochtimes.com/n2/world/under ... -3151.html

More evidence has emerged in the last two days that two of the girls, He Kexin and Yang Yilin, were 14 years old and not 16, as claimed by the Chinese authorities.

[grizzaholic]

So it took them this long to announce it?? It is about time. Everybody knows that she is underage. Just look at her. China will sure have a great rep. from these games. Lots of Gold medals in sports that other countries don't participate in very much, underage athletes that the country says are old enough, and lots of human rights violations.

[Ursus A. Horribilis]

When a few of the girls are just losing their baby teeth you kinda gotta wonder...

[grizzaholic]

Maybe I am wrong, but when every olympic diver from every other country weighs at least 100 pounds and are all over 5 foot, China brings these two girls that are 4 foot 9 and 4 foot 10 and cannot weigh over 85 pounds. I sure makes you think, hummmmmm I bet they are going to make a smaller splash when they hit the water if they are really small.

[dbackjon]

Maybe I am wrong, but when every olympic diver from every other country weighs at least 100 pounds and are all over 5 foot, China brings these two girls that are 4 foot 9 and 4 foot 10 and cannot weigh over 85 pounds. I sure makes you think, hummmmmm I bet they are going to make a smaller splash when they hit the water if they are really small.

Good point - I thought they looked young as well.

[SuperHornet]

So long as there is no official age rule, I have no problem with it. One would think that the older the athlete, the more likely they'll be to deal adequately with adversity; the tykes would be more likely to freak. (Hence the Little League upper age-limit rule and the recent caught violation of it.) But if there's a rule, then it should be enforced. If the IOC determines that violations occurred, then there should be a medal re-distribution.

[grizzaholic]

I agree 100% Superhornet. If there is no rule on age, there is no problem. But if there is one and everybody abides by it except for the few, the few should pay the consequences with loss of medals and that country should be ashamed of themselves.