Chinese Gymnasts Age - The IOC investigation into the age of five Chinese gymnasts is a whitewash aimed at covering up the age cheating by China, not exposing it.

Five Chinese gymnasts age in question

Despite launching an investigation into the Chinese gymnasts age, the IOC has been quick to stress that all of the documentation so far supports China’s insistence that the girls are the proper age, and indicated it did not expect that to change.

Independent investigations by the New York Times, the London Times, and the L.A. Times all found that Chinese gymnasts He Kexin and Yang Yilin were definitely too young to compete.

Chinese gymnast he kexin won gold, but is underage

Earlier this month, the Associated Press found registration lists previously posted on the official Web site of the General Administration of Sport of China that showed both He Kexin and Yang Yilin were too young to compete.

Chinese gymnastic officials insist all their gymnasts are old enough to compete, but gymnasts have to at least turn 16 during the Olympic year to be eligible.

He Kexin's age is under investigation by the IOC

He Kexin was born January 1, 1994, according to the official China sports 2005, 2006 and 2007 registration lists. In the 2008 registration list, He Kexin’s birthday was changed to January 1, 1992.

Yang Yilin was born August 26, 1993, according to the official Chinese 2004, 2005 and 2006 registration lists. In the 2007 registration list, Yang’s birthday was changed to Aug. 26, 1992.

Yang Yilin is another underage Chinese gymnast

Yang Yilin was therefore underage at the 2007 World Championship and the 2008 Olympics.

Regarding He Kexin, an Associated Press report of a Nov. 3, 2007, speech by Liu Peng - Director of General Administration of Sport for China - there was no question she was two years too young.

“The 13-year-old uneven-bar gymnast He Kexin,” Liu said, “who defeated national team athlete Yang Yilin — she just won the bronze medal in the world championships — has demonstrated her ability.”

To be eligible for the Chinese City Games where Liu made his remarks, documents must be provided showing that athletes are over 13, but under 15.

Official brithdate of He Kexin shown as January 1, 1994 on official China Sports web site

If He Kexin was really born January 1, 1992, then she would have been too old to participate in the Chinese City Games that first brought her to national prominence.

A story published in the Beijing Evening News on December 2, 2007 includes this sentence: “To make up for the disadvantages of the women’s team on uneven bars, the 13-year-old young athlete He Kexin might be the secret weapon for the Olympics game.”

Nastia Liukin, He Kexin, Yang Yinlin in Olympics uneven bars medal ceremony

Because the IOC has asked FIG, gymnastics governing body, to conduct the investigation, the International Olympics Committee can pretend the matter has been looked into and the Chinese cleared of any wrongdoing.

Otherwise, the host country would be stripped of it’s women’s gymnastics team gold medal, and the results of all the underage gymnasts thrown out, resulting in great embarassment for both the IOC and China.

And that’s the latest news on the IOC’s whitewash “investigation” of the Chinese gymnasts age.

Tags: chinese gymnast underage, chinese gymnasts age, he kexin, ioc investigation, ioc whitewash, yang yinlin

Related posts