IOC launching probe into He Kexin's age

Ingymmom · #1 08-21-2008, 01:53 PM

International Olympic Committee launches probe into He Kexin's age - Times Online

The International Olympic Committee has ordered an investigation into mounting allegations that Chinese authorities covered up the true age of their gold-medal winning gymnastics star because she was too young to compete.
An IOC official told The Times that because of "discrepancies" that have come to light about the age of He Kexin, the host nation’s darling who won gold in both team and individual events, an official inquiry has been launched that could result in the gymnast being stripped of her medals.
The investigation was triggered as a US computer expert claimed today to have uncovered Chinese government documents that he says prove she is only 14 - making her ineligible to compete in the Olympics - rather than 16, as officials in Beijing insist is her age.
Mike Walker, a computer security expert, told The Times how he tracked down two documents that he says had been removed from a Chinese government website. The documents, he said, stated that He’s birth date was January 1 1994 - making her 14 - and not January 1 1992, which is printed in her passport. (story continued - International Olympic Committee launches probe into He Kexin's age - Times Online)

**bogwoppit** · #2 08-21-2008, 02:03 PM

I just was reading this on another site. Will be interesting to see exactly how far this goes.

gymdog · #3 08-21-2008, 02:04 PM

I am kind of surprised about this. I figured the IOC mght not investiate after their kind of "case closed" response earlier. But that is interesting. I feel bad for He, but I can't condone cheating. It's just terrible to know a young girl will be caught at the center of it.

gym monkeys mom · #4 08-21-2008, 02:09 PM

I am so glad they are looking into this it was very unfair when everyone else plays by the rules. If age was ot a factor Nastia could possibly have been at her 2nd Olympics defending her title. I do feel very bad for He as she was only doing her job as it was told to her by the powers that be. She will be the one hurt in the whole deal.

Drowning123gone · #5 08-21-2008, 02:11 PM

I'm glad they are actually going to look into the ages of some of the competitors. I feel bad for the girls that have worked hard and earned them but at the same time I feel bad for the people that have followed the rules. If they are infact not 16, I hope they do strip the medals not only because they didn't follow the rules but maybe they won't do it again.

flippymonkeysmom · #6 08-21-2008, 02:17 PM

Would China be stripped of the team gold as well ???? I really do feel bad for the girls though - you know they have no say. They are amazing gymnasts caught in the middle of corruption.

Drowning123gone · #7 08-21-2008, 02:30 PM

I could be wrong but I am pretty sure that the team medals would also be stripped and given to the usa. Its one of those things where if one person messes up the group is punished.

mom2kazkids · #8 08-21-2008, 02:44 PM

I hope that this is truely taken sseriously, and if it is found that she was not of age that the USA be awarded the gold for team and Bars.

Barb

As our one of our coaches told the girls that were cheating on their conditioning : Cheaters live in China.

Ingymmom · #9 08-21-2008, 02:51 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by mom2kazkids

IAs our one of our coaches told the girls that were cheating on their conditioning : Cheaters live in China.

What? That is an absolutely horrible thing to say! I hate to say it, but because of some of the comments I read on this very board, I am ashamed to be called an American - no wonder we have such a bad rep in other countries....

gracefulone · #10 08-21-2008, 03:09 PM

Are they only looking into He, or are they investigating Jiang Yuyuan, Yang Yilin, and Deng Linlin as well? To me, I'd say Deng and Yang appear younger than He, but that's just me.

I am glad IOC is addressing this, but I have said before that if they are actually innoceny I fell terrible that they have had to go through all of this.

As for medals being stripped: I don't know if an 'official inquiry' was made in 1992, but Kim Gwan Suk later was banned (with the rest of her team) from the 1993 worlds for cheating and admitted to being underage, and was never stripped of her Olympic title.