China Stripped of 2000 Gymnastic Bronze Medal
 

China was stripped of a team all-around bronze medal from the 2000 Sydney Olympics on Wednesday because it fielded an underage gymnast. Dong Fangxiao was discovered to be 14 at the time of those Games, two years younger than the minimum age requirement.

The medal will be given to the United States team which finished fourth in Sydney. The IOC has asked for China to return the medals "as soon as possible" so they can be reallocated to the U.S. team.



http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/van...urn=oly,237384


Some of the comments on Yahoo, people are like "if a 14 year old can do that stuff, they should keep it". While that is "great" in theory the whole matter is that China cheated. The IOC has instituted age requirements for a reason. All the other countries who participated in those Olympic games followed the age requirement, I'm sorry China the rules just don't magically "not apply to you".
A part of me does feel bad for the participants but their country shouldn't have cheated.

From the sounds of the article the reason they gave these medals "back" to the U.S. is because in 08 it became apparent that China was still sending underage athletes but the IOC "swept it under the rug". I really hope that they go back and look at it.

Even if it had been the U.S. who had been caught cheating, I would say the same thing. They were the dumb butts who cheated and they deserve to have the medal's taken away.

Thoughts?

well hmmm, let's see if they will go after those 04 and 08 medals too...LOL

I thought the IOC said they won't go after the 08 medals because they recieved passports with ages on them and according to those, the team was all 16. Then again, how hard would it be for the government to create incorrect passports!

Sounds like the biggest blunder China made was when they let the gymnast go back to using her correct birthdate over the one the created for her!

Come on now...China...the land of bootlegs!!!!!

So, let me get this straight...the IOC accepts their passports as proof of age when the passport is issued by China who has a history of passing off underage athletes as legal participants in this sport. That's logical!:rolleyes:

I feel kind of bad for the US gymnasts getting the medals. Yes, it's nice that 10 years later they get recognized for their work, but it's too bad that it took so long to get there. Much of the enthusiasm around receiving medals (I'd think) is due to timing- you get the excitement at the events, the medal ceremonies, team celebrations, potential sponsorships, etc. Ten years later you just get a medal and a title- both of which will always feel a little tainted- but none of the added excitement or career growth. It's too bad. (and like ASUADPi, I would've said that no matter the country)

I also feel a bit sorry for the Chinese gymnasts... many of them are sent away by their families at very young ages and gymnastics is all they know. Saying you're 16 when you're really 14 may be part of the package- it's just how it's done. They're a very competitive country (which I respect about them) but when they push too far, a 14 year old isn't going to stand up to the entire country and say No, that isn't right. Grownups are telling them it is.

I agree with you Angela- it's not the best proof considering the issuers. In a way the 2008 games in Beijing highlighted the issue, but it also made it hard to push TOO far on the home country. "You're hosting and we've already had a lot of controversy about your country, and now you are disqualified from one of your top events". Sticky situation- probably why they've been investigating so hard lately. Personally do I believe that all their competing gymnasts are 16? No.

And to the Yahoo comments, just because a 14 year old CAN do that doesn't mean she should. There are rules for a reason- assumedly based on physicaly & mental health, physical capabilities while a body is maturing, etc. So if you want to challenge the rules, do so. But don't say she deserves it because she can do it when younger.

BIG surprise:rolleyes:

Dominique Dawes is now 33??? She was awesome!!

And yes, if this had been a team from any other country, do you honestly think they would have gotten away with it for 10 years? I feel badly for the 14 year old gymnast - she knew all along that she was too young, but was probably forced to compete anyhow.