Gymnasts cleared in Beijing gripe, but not Sydney

Though the case is closed on China's Olympic gold medalists, the age controversy in gymnastics is far from over.

Documents confirm all six members of China's gold medal team at the Beijing Games were old enough to compete, the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) said yesterday. But it wants more answers from two members of China's 2000 squad - Dong Fangxiao and Yang Yun - saying it "does not consider the explanations and evidence provided to date in regards to these athletes as satisfactory."

It also is moving forward with a licensing system that would serve as proof of age for a gymnast's entire career.

"It's not about the medal," said Dominique Dawes, part of the US squad that finished fourth behind China at the 2000 Olympics in Sydney. "The important issue is them righting a wrong . . . it's really about making sure every athlete is doing things the right way."

Dong's official birthdate is listed as Jan. 20, 1983. But her accreditation information for the Beijing Olympics, where she worked as a national technical official, lists her birthdate as Jan. 23, 1986, said Andre Gueisbuhler, the FIG's secretary general.

"If that document is the correct one, that would suggest she was 14 years old at the Sydney Olympic Games," Gueisbuhler said.

Gymnasts must turn 16 during an Olympic year to be eligible to compete.

Questions about the ages of China's squad for the Beijing Games had swirled for months, with media reports and online records suggesting some girls could be as young as 14. China insisted that all six gymnasts were old enough and said it had proof.

Beginning next year, the FIG will require any gymnast who competes in an international competition at the junior or senior level to have a license based on a passport. The hope is this will prevent cheating, because most gymnasts begin competing internationally several years before appearing at an Olympics or world championships.

While it continues to investigate the ages of Dong and Yang, the FIG also is exploring its legal options. The FIG's statute of limitations in disciplinary issues is five years, but it can be extended to 10 years for criminal matters. If cause were found, the punishment could be as severe as stripping medals.