Olympics Committee To Investigate Chinese Women's Gymnastics!!!!!!!
FINALLY!
According to a new report, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) confirmed on Thursday 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.
Evidence unearthed by a hacker has apparently helped the IOC to finally see the light.
Philippe Filacci, Head of Media Operations for Fédération Internationale de Gymnastique, who's presently in Beijing for the Olympics, confirmed that he was aware of the new evidence and said, "We are investigating it."
They should have investigated the underage allegations when they came up BEFORE the Olympic women's gymnastics tourney even started!!
It's all about playing by the RULES everyone AGREED to abide by, right?
[Image via Getty Images.]
No Ill Will
If they entered under age gymnasts, the team should be stripped of its team medal and any individual medals those gymnasts one. I know when Andreea Raducan got nailed on "doping," the IOC only took her all-around. I think more than one team gymnast being underage (if it that is what is discovered) calls for the team to go as well. I think re-awarding the medals is a different issue, but taking them is the only way to illustrate the seriousness of this matter.
Damn she looks like an alien.
In the meantime, other athletes (and/or horses) are doping up. And we already know the gymnastic judges are dumbasses: 2004, men's all around, not awarding the correct start value for Yang Tae Young, Paul Hamm winning the gold even though if Young was awarded the correct start value, Young would have won gold. But of course, since an AMERICAN won GOLD, everyone seemed to be on Hamm's side, and poor Young got screwed in the end. So basically, the moral of the story? There will always be controversy and everything is prone to human error, and yes this is the fairest thing to do to investigate her age further … but honestly, if it happened to be the American team … well it'll just be the Paul Hamm story all over again.
Re: miss bliss – Are you kidding me? In a country like that if you speak the truth and go against their wishes you could be killed. In a communist country you do what they say no matter what.
Perez… though I hate to admit it I love your site….I like the fact you like us Brits but why the China bashing…. Where on your site do you acknowledge that the USA has done more harm to the Olympic movement and games than any other nation in recent history - all you and American media seem to do is bash China conveniently forgetting your recent past…. Even our very own BBC has Michael Johnson as a commentator… one of your best ever Olympians who gave back a gold medal because you guys cheated more than anyone recently…..Pot , Kettle , Black….. Wake up Perez you are beeter than this
I still agree that everyone must follow the rules, but like i dont see the advantage of having 13 and 14 year olds on your team I think it is a huge feat for them to have won with so much inexperience on their team..all the power to them!
God, why is everyone hating on the Americans? The US Women's gymnastics team has not commented on the controversy, but seriously, What's the point of having a rule if you're not going to enforce it?
The IOC needs to do what is right for the sake of these girls. They can face either temporary public embarassment or a lifetime's worth of scorn. Anyone with any sense knows that they have absolutely no choice in the matter; they were forced to lie and probably feel horrible about it. China is not a democracy, for those here too young to remember Tiannamen square. Since these girls are being forced to lie and are being cast as immoral 'cheaters' before the world, the IOC needs to step in and disqualify them so that this does not follow them for the rest of their lives.
Re: Jordie-Joyride – get a grip. You don't see the advantage of pre-pubescent bodies competing against more physically mature girls? Do you have kids or younger siblings or friends? Why are most athletes young? Where are all the 40 year olds in sport? Stop making America look so stupid by saying things like this. Read the post on here by the doctor that talks about how gymnastics rigor at this young age is too hard on the child's developing body. Do you think it's just coincidence most gymnasts are so short? This rigor of training stunts their growth.
If they played by the rules, Nastia would have two golds!!!
I don't blame the gymnasts, I blame their government! It's about time! Even if the US had not placed second I would still push for an investigation. "Fair is Fair!"~ Billie Jean
nice.
and they better have to give back their olympic medals…bitches!!!! still protesting the olympics and this is why…cuz of BS like this!!!!!
Fuck you Pérez. Let Chinese people alone.
Fucking Americans. What about your fucking wars bastards!?!
China is a great country and you´re a fucking ignorant.
Not everybody do things at the American way.
Let the poor kid alone!
… No idea
Looking forward the result.
However, I think you guys always think Asian female look like young than truth.
Re: Missy McGee –
Have u been to there? You know what, when I am living in China I do not think so, or I never concern this. Till I study outside… I found… Whatever, it is hard to say, just power of media, it is leading you guys' mind…
Re: Missy McGee – uhh … when I was over there in China, I actually experienced more freedom than in the states. Though I shouldn't spotlight it, it was a major plus when you could drink anywhere you wanted … streets, subways, cabs … ohman, that is one thing I definitely miss about China. The only major no-no they have, other than the usual no killing people, stealing and etc, common sense stuff, is that you can't criticize the government, obviously it's fine amongst friends and family, but in a huge public setting, it should not be done, though I do remember chanting "free tibet" in chinese at a bar once. And we weren't kicked out or killed or jailed … so yeah … but yeah, your notion of China is very ignorant and maybe you should actually experience it before you have this preconceived notion of China as a barbaric and backwards place just because it's "communist" because if you haven't noticed, even though China's government is communist, their economy is essentially capitalist because in the end, money wins overall. Oh and if you don't know your history, communism was actually a very good thing for women's rights in China and Mao heavily advocated the fact that "women hold up half of the sky". Don't be so critical if you don't know what you're talking about.
I think its only fair that the IOC is finally pulling their heads out of their asses and investigating this…
What they are doing is cheating and THEY KNOW IT… otherwise they wouldnt be covering their tracks and trying to hide the truth.
Oh… and the diver who is 14 is PLAYING BY THE RULES! The age limit to compete in diving is 14.
Quit bashing America! This has NOTHING to do with the American team. We arent the only country crying "foul"… Everyone from Australia to the UK is talking about it.
Re: hippychk13 – and I see your protesting has been very effective with the Beijing Olympics being one of most watched olympics ever … you know … good for you, keep on protesting and maybe the closing ceremony will be a huge hit like the opening ceremony.
Re: hippychk13 – and I see all your hard work has been paying off … with the Beijing Olympics being one of the most watched and highly rated olympics … you know … ever. So I guess keep on protesting and maybe the closing ceremony will be a huge hit like the opening ceremony
aww, two similar posts. that sucks.
stop hating on China. everyone cheats, and this age exaggeration is SO MINOR. she's a gymnastic star with real talent who just might be a couple years younger than she says she is. WHO THE F CARES?? i think much much worse and much more disgraceful is when an athlete is all like, "oh look at all my natural talent, i'm so awesome," when he/she is actually doping. now THAT is cheating.
and the racist, ignorant comments in response to this are really starting to get ooc. just accept it with some grace, America, other people can be better than you. or maybe try to find your own 14 year old that can win gold in the olympics and THEN say that this "cheating" was unfair.
it's great that someone's FINALLY paying attention. The world has been trying so hard not to offend the host nation that it looked like someone might ignore the entire thing. Not that I'm expecting much from FIG. They were the ones, after all, who wrote a letter to Paul Hamm asking him to give up the cold AFTER the IOC asked them not to, because they didn't want to deal with the drama.
It is kind of fucked that they tried to ignore it. I think must of the world is livid about this.
Same thing happened with one of their gymnasts in the Sydney 2000 olympics..and they wont 'use them again' they are at their best right now.
In 4 years time they will be coaches or retired.
Female gymnasts only get one chance in the olympics and after 17 they would be seen as too old and they would have a new batch of gymnasts that are lucky enough to be born in the right window for them to be between 14 - 16 during the olympics so they have the right level of fearlessness and size and flexibility.
I personally think training for the olympics steals any female gymnasts childhood and they should just remove the age limit.
you're just being a bunch of sore losers cause you lost. even if the Chinese were underage, remember this… you got schooled by a bunch of 14 year olds…. that sould make you really proud
Bella Caroli: He's underage.
Bob Costas: Don't you mean "she's" underage?
Bella Caroli: Yes, that's what I said, He's underage.
Bob Costas: What?
Bella Caroli: No, What is a pole vaulter.
bullshit "they won"
not only did they steal gold frrom nasti luikin with their fucked up retarded didn't even make sense tie breaker technique but chong fei
WHO FELL ON HER KNEES in the vault stold alicia sacramones bronze
it's all bullshit
and they're scoring was RIDICULOUS
Re: Lynnerawr – it takes less effort for a small agile kid to wiin and the stress just bounces off of them
Re: wiserbrit – I don't know much about America's 'history' of cheating at the Olympics but Perez is right to shed light on this! Why should the Chinese get away with it???
And they wonder why the rest of the world views them with suspicion and apprehension! Behind the big happy, harmonious face they want to project to the world is deceit and corruption. Everyone sees straight through it.
The IOC is not going to investigate the "Chinese Women's Team", it's the "Chinese Children's Team."
I say don't take it out on these poor girls. They've got no control over what the Chinese gov't wants them to do. That place ain't the states, ya'll….
Will the IOC take away their medals? No. China put on too spectacular Olympics for them to 'make a fool' of them that way.. I mean, it's totally easy for the metals to be taken away if they wanted them to be - just look at what happened to Germany's show jumping team at the last games.
It'll all go under the rug and just be a rumored black-mark on this games.
I think the bottom line is that besides being horrible for their health, growth, and development, China also forced these young girls to lie about their ages. Can you imagine what horrible international pressure that is for a 14 year old to deal with? What would happen to her if she did tell the truth about her age? The IOC needs to step in and take these medals away so China doesn't do these horrible things to the next generation of female gymnasts!
WTF, THESE CHINESE PEOPLE HAVE NOTHING BETTER TO DO THAN TO CHEAT!?!?!?!?!?
LIKE THAT FUCKIN BITCHES FACE IS GETTING ON MY FUCKING LAST NERVE!!!!!!!!!!!!!
UGH!!!!!
It's easier for the Chinese on the uneven bars because they have horizontal coochies.
It's about time that the IOC did this. It's bad enough that the gymnasts are earning scores that they aren't earning (anyone remember Shawn's gold being STOLEN?) but the underage gymnasts are just reprehensible. It's all about playing fair. It's BS.
FINALLY!
But what happens when they finally realize that most of the girls are underage? Are they stripped of their medals??
Thank You all posters. I now have proof that Americans are a bunch of racist retards. Because if it is on the internet, it must be true. Right? With "athlets" like Marion Jones representing your country I would keep my mouth shut rather than make accusations based on google evidence.
If the chinese girl didn't win the gold, nobody would have cared about her age! But since she totally kicked ass, someone had to hack!! That hacker should be arrested too! The U.S.A. has over 2000 medals in total from all of the olympics. China has only over 800 medals…..And besides, the U.S.A would have cheated too, if they would get away with it!
The only reason Perez is sheding some light on this, is because he hates China!!
way to use a horrible picture perez! the only right thing you've said so far is that they should have investigated all this BEFORE the tournament. but they didn't, instead they do it after China wins gold. this is really stupid, all the spectulating. since they are now investigating, if china cheated, then they will announce it. but since they are not saying anything yet, stop making judgements perez. we all know you're not the brightest at times so stop filling other people's heads with all your crap.
GOOD! If the US did that, our entire team would've been kicked out of Beijing!
I knew they weren't 16 they look like a 10 years old!!
CHEATERS!
what took them so damn long? she looks like she is 10. the chinese gov't is shady
OMG if I read one more comment about "your just jealous", "sore losers", "I don't see the big deal", etc. I'm going to lose my mind. Since when is cheating okay? Rules are put in place for a reason. I don't care if the team breaking the rules is from China, the USA, Canada, Poland, Iraq, you name it - cheating is cheating. When an athlete takes a steroid he/she makes the playing field unfair and when this athlete is caught cheating his/her awards, records, and medals are stripped. In gymnastics size and age can make the playing field unfair. If you put a 14 year old girl that has yet to enter puberty (and we know that sports such as gymnastics can delay puberty) up against an older gymnast he/she is at an advantage for numerous reasons. Anytime the playing field is uneven and advantage is given to one athlete over another it is not fair. The United States is not jealous because they lost; yes I'm sure they wished they had taken gold. But they have a right to be upset because of cheating. Until the rules change and allow 14 year olds to compete in gymnastics in the Olympics it is cheating when they do. Let's call a spade a spade - cheaters are cheaters.
OH and about the topic of other sports allowing younger competitors - that doesn't matter! We are talking about the rules of gymnastics, not swimming, not track and field - GYMNASTICS. Every sport has its own set of rules. Deal with it or don't compete.
i'm not sure if anyone knows this, butttt
shawn johnson of the american team is only 4' 8"!!!!!!
so really if you think about it, the US and China are quite equal when it comes to "dynamics".
i think it's unfair that that girl's chinese medal is being taken away, because she worked her butt of for it. there have been past competitors that were 13 or 14.
but i do think it's unfair that the whole world is being lied too, and i'm sure that they knew there would be consequences
It's funny that so many of you seem to think that this is all about the US being sore losers. Is anyone pissed off because the Chinese men's team practically sweeped all the golds for men's gymnastics and the US placed 3rd? nope and why? because the Chinese men were clearly better and they left absolutely no reason to doubt their talent or right to be there. We are not the only country full of people who are upset & insulted by this blatant attempt to play the entire world for fools. Some people are being disgustingly racist, but overall people are just upset that China showed a complete lack of respect for the entity that is the Olympics, much less for the young women who worked so hard to get there & were competing legitimately.
Get over it! Seriously, you Americans are way too obsessed with winning. So it's not according to the rules, so what?! She won! Okay, so it's not fair and it shouldn't have happend, but it did, and you have to live with it. I really care about justice but, come on, just let that little girl have her medail.
Re: Lynnerawr – no it does not the younger u r the more flexable u r so it is way easier for them to do more stunts if u watched the games u would have heard them say that
Re: hottie – could not agree more
I'm not American, nor am I Chinese so I wasn't biased towards any side but after reading some of the comments I am really glad to not be American.
There seems to be a lot of blatant or semi-hidden racism going on. A lot of hatred and skepticism for other Countries that "beat" you. So, if this girl IS underage, all their medals are gone and will your country throw a parade to show the world how they threw a tantrum until they got their pretty gold medal?
The way the world views your country has vastly changed over the last few years, especially because of the president you did or didn't elect, who was re-elected for a 2nd term and has put you into the several trillion dollar debt.
There are more things to get hell bent over and they are happening in your own back yard. If you are all so worried about fairness, lying and cheating, contact your local government.
PS. NORDIC BLONDE: sorry that not all women can look like the type of woman you deem beautiful, with fake tits, blonde hair and blue eyed, aryan appeal like yourself
Re: fagsrus – no they didn't they lost buy 2 points.
Re: Jordie-Joyride – in the gymnastics world the younger you are the better advantage you have because you don't have as much stress on your body as you would if you were an older gymnast.
Re: fid – I agree 100% with you!! And even if the U.S. does get the medals they "deserved", it's not gonna make a big change!! That 14 year old girl still kicked their boney asses!!
You guys don't understand the physical advantage the younger age has. It has nothing to do with just the "height". It requires more work for balance and flexibility when you start "developing". Get the info before you start staying "14 year old beat those older kids", sure they did, they had a distinct ADVANTAGE.