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Originally Posted by BarTopDancer
Wouldn't that be a scandal. Forged passports and other government documents too (they said the IOC verified ages using passports).
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Now there are reports that a 3rd Chinese gymnast may be under age.
From the CBC...
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The age of a third Chinese gymnast is in doubt, making half of China's women's gymnastics team possibly too young to compete in the Olympics.
Yang Yilin was born Aug. 26, 1993, according to 2004, 2005 and 2006 registration lists previously posted on the General Administration of Sport of China's website.
Yang is a medal favourite in the all-around and uneven bars, but the previously listed birth date would make her 15 at the end of August, below the minimum age of 16.
Yang's birth date on the 2007 registration list, however, is stated as Aug. 26, 1992, making her eligible.
The ages of two other Chinese gymnasts are also in doubt: He Kexin, a gold-medal favourite on uneven bars, and Jiang Yuyuan.
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Then from the NY Times...
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Several Chinese sports registries showed that He Kexin, Jiang Yuyuan and Yang Yilin did not meet that age requirement.
Chinese authorities have produced passports to prove those gymnasts are old enough to compete. The international gymnastics federation, known as the F.I.G., issued a statement Saturday, saying the passports were proof that the Chinese were playing fair. International Olympic Committee officials agreed.....
....A passport, however, may not be undisputed documentation of a gymnast’s age. Yang Yun won two bronze medals at the 2000 Sydney Games, in the uneven bars and as a member of the Chinese team. The United States team finished fourth.
Afterward, Yang said on state-run television that she was 14 when she competed at the Games. A Hunan Province sports administration report confirmed that.
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I know none of this is new, but in this day an age it seems ludicrous to simply accept photocopied passports as proof. By having the due diligence be the responsibility of the submitting country, the IOC is turning a blind eye to this kind of cheating. By their non-involvement they are basically condoning it.