Now that it’s clear this could become the biggest scandal of the Beijing Games in all sports, the International Olympic Committee simply wants the problem to go away.
Despite persistent questions about the ages of several members of the Chinese women’s gymnastics team that won the gold medal, the International Olympic Committee said Friday there is still no proof anyone cheated and believes the controversy will be “put to rest.” …
What about the promised investigation? Assign someone to interview the families of the athletes, perhaps. To ask for newspaper articles from competitions in past years that include age.
Show me those articles and I’ll apologize for questioning the age of He Kexin.
It’s comedy that official documents from a totalitarian state would be considered evidence. Passports and birth certificates have been altered in the past, why should I believe the were not falsified this time?
… the Chinese gave the FIG documents Thursday evening that included the current and former passport, ID card and family residence permit for double gold medalist He Kexin. Lu said the documents all say she was born in 1992, which makes her eligible to compete. Gymnasts must turn 16 at some point during the Olympic year in order to be eligible. …
Personally, I don’t think the issue has been put to rest.
And what about the promised investigation into Yang Yun?
… Even China’s own Yang Yun, a double bronze medalist in Sydney, said during an interview aired on state broadcaster China Central Television that she was 14 in 2000.
Best case scenario, FIG removes the age requirement so we do not have to go through this again in future.
That won’t happen while Bruno Grandi is in charge.
Gymnastics Coaching.com 