Beijing 2008: September 2008 Archives

By Associated Press | International Herald Tribune
September 24, 2008

The investigation into the ages of China's gold-medal women's gymnastics team has been expanded to include members of the 2000 team that won a bronze in Sydney, the Associated Press has learned.

International gymnastics officials are examining whether Yang Yun and Dong Fangxiao, in particular, were old enough to compete at the Sydney Olympics. Gymnasts must turn 16 during the Olympic year.

"If we had a look at all the articles that came before, during and after the games, there were always rumors about the ages of China's athletes in Sydney," Andre Gueisbuhler, secretary general of the International Gymnastics Federation, told The Associated Press on Wednesday.

"We did not have another choiced. If we want to remain credible, then we have to look into things."

Yang's birthdate is listed as Dec. 2, 1984, which would have made her 16 in Sydney. 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 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.

No other Chinese teams are being looked at, Gueisbuhler said.

A month after the Beijing Games ended, the investigation into the eligibility of the Chinese gymnasts continues, and Gueisbuhler said there is no timetable for when a report will be handed over to the International Olympic Committee.

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