As we mentioned in August, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) confirmed that it has asked the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) to investigate the Chinese gymnastics team’s underage fiasco, following evidence that at least two gymnasts competed under the legal age in the Olympics.
Well, some research was conducted and it’s been determined that China’s gold medalists were old enough to compete.
There were, however, still some lingering questions about the Chinese team that competed back in 2000 at the Sydney Games, particularly with two members of the team, Dong Fangxiao and Yang Yun.
FIG said in a statement that it “does not consider the explanations and evidence provided to date in regards to these [2000] athletes as satisfactory.”
Dong had credentials suggesting she was only 14 in 2000 and her blog also indicated she was underage while in Sydney. As for Yang, in a 2007 interview that aired in China she admitted she was 14 at the time.
Andre Gueisbuhler, secretary general of the FIG, said “I would hope that the whole world in sport realizes that the FIG is serious about these rules and the ethics and moral questions.”
All gymnasts must turn 16 during the Olympic year in order to compete.
Emmanuelle Moreau, spokeswoman for the International Olympic Committee, said “We are satisfied with the information provided by FIG, and we now consider the (2008) matter closed. For the FIG, the age of the Chinese team is well documented and proven,” Gueisbuhler added.
As for the 2000 Olympics, Moreau added, “Clearly they feel that there is more to be looked at for Sydney. We encourage them to pursue their inquiry and shed some light on these cases. We now rely on them to get to the bottom of that and get back to us.”
And there you have it.
For now!
[Photo via Getty Images.]
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