More age-old questions arise
Chinese gymnasts may be too young
 In this July 28, 2007 photo, China's Jiang Yuyuan performs the uneven bars during the World Cup gymnastics competition in Shanghai. Several Chinese female gymnasts, including Jiang, might be too young to participate in the upcoming Beijing Olympics. (AP Photo) |
Birth dates found in online documents have raised questions about the age of another Chinese gymnast - bringing the total to three (half the women's team expected to contend for a gold medal), who may be too young to compete in the Beijing Olympics.
Yang Yilin, a medal contender in the all-around and uneven bars, was born Aug. 26, 1993, according to the 2004, 2005, and 2006 registration lists previously posted on the website of the General Administration of Sport of China. That would make Yang only 15 later this month. Gymnasts have to be 16 during the Olympic year to be eligible for the games.
In the 2007 registration list, however, Yang's birthday is listed as Aug. 26, 1992, making her eligible to compete.
Similar concerns have already been raised about the ages of He Kexin, a gold-medal favorite on uneven bars, and Jiang Yuyuan.
Chinese gymnastics officials did not immediately respond to a fax asking for documentation of Yang's age and an explanation of the discrepancy.
Asked about the records that appear to call Yang's age into question, International Gymnastics Federation secretary general Andrei Gueisbuhler said he couldn't comment without seeing them.
Though the International Olympic Committee was in contact with the gymnastics federation and Chinese officials over the eligibility questions, president Jacques Rogge said Saturday it was clearly a FIG issue.
The team gold medal is expected to be contested by two countries: China and the United States, and He and Yang have the potential to give the Chinese a sizable advantage.
Both have scored 17s on the uneven bars this season, while only one American, Nastia Liukin, has done the same. In team finals, three gymnasts compete in each event and all three scores count.
Age falsification has been a problem in gymnastics since the 1980s, after the minimum age was raised from 14 to 15 to protect young athletes from serious injuries. The minimum age was raised to its current 16 in 1997. China's Yang Yun, a double bronze medalist in Sydney, said during an interview aired on state broadcaster China Central Television that she was 14 in 2000.
But questions about the current Chinese team have been particularly fierce. The New York Times first reported the suspicions about He and Jiang, and the AP also has found documents that indicate the two might be too young to compete. There are also possible inconsistencies involving alternate Sui Lu. Officials with the Chinese Gymnastics Association have maintained that all of its gymnasts are of age to compete in Beijing, saying they applied for passports for the athletes "according to all valid legal identification cards."
Yesterday, American gymnast Chellsie Memmel hurt her right ankle while training on the floor exercise but is expected to compete in Olympic team competition next weekend.
Bryant good enough
Kobe Bryant provided the offense in the US Olympic team's first defensive struggle, scoring 11 of his 19 points in the third quarter of an 89-68 victory over Russia in Shanghai. Carmelo Anthony added 17 points in what was by far the Americans' most competitive tune-up yet for the Beijing Games. The US had been scoring 118 points per game while winning its first three exhibitions by an average of 41 points. Russia allowed far fewer fast-break baskets than the previous US opponents, successfully keeping the game in the halfcourt by grabbing 12 offensive rebounds and forcing the Americans to run more offensive sets . . . In Haining, China, Sylvia Fowles scored 8 of her 13 points during a late fourth-quarter run to lead the Americans to a 84-74 victory over pesky Latvia in an Olympic tune-up. The US team has not had much playing time together because of injuries, overseas commitments, and the WNBA season. "We're still a work in progress," US coach Anne Donovan said . . . Brandon Knight struck out 10 and Cleveland Indians prospect Matt LaPorta hit one of the US Olympic baseball team's four home runs in a 9-1 exhibition victory over Canada in Durham, N.C.
Protest in Beijing
About two dozen protesters clashed with police near Tiananmen Square in Beijing early today, saying they were evicted from their homes to make way for reconstruction linked to the Games. Yesterday the security chief for the Olympic organizing committee said protesters who want to speak out must apply five days in advance, and not harm "national interests." Accused of repressing dissent, China said it would allow officially approved demonstrations at three parks in the capital. But Liu Shaowu, security chief for the organizing committee, warned that China has a broad ban against gatherings deemed "harmful" to national interests . . . In what scientists are calling the largest attempt to improve air quality, scores of heavily polluting factories were shut down and some 2 million vehicles were pulled off roads across Beijing and a huge swath of northern China, and hazy skies finally gave way to swirling blue during the weekend.
