Is there any physical test to determine a live person's age?

Question

This whole controversy around whether the Chinese female gymnasts are under 16 made me wonder ... is there any way you can test to find out someone's age (but not have to kill them to do it)? It seems like if there was such a test, it would be a good idea to add it for all gymnasts, just to ensure a level playing field, much like they do genetic testing and drug testing now.

Answer 1

No, there isn't.  Some people take better care of their bodies than others, and might have a younger or older physical age that doesn't coincide with their chronological age.  And what's the controversy?  There is a 15 year old American olympian.

Answer 2

No, there isn't. Not even if you kill them.

Answer 3

Not with enough accuracy.

Answer 4

There's no definitive markers which would allow certain determination, dead or alive.  Many markers, which approximate age might be used however.  Presence of (deciduous teeth (baby teeth) indicates age to some degree (as does the eruption of the teeth for infants), which could be easily determined for a living person.  The development of the third molars (wisdom teeth) can be discerned by x-ray and indicates age.  Many other ossifications of various bone sutures and articulations can be used (which generally could be read by x-ray or ct scan).  

No test, dead or alive, is definitive enough to determine if a child is 15 instead of 16. That technology does not exist to the best of my knowledge.

Answer 5

To respond to Beth's point about the 15-year-old American, when it comes to gymnastics, the rule is that their 16th birthday must fall in the year of the olympics.  So, it's OK if someone is 15 and will be turning 16 in, say October, but not OK if the person is 14 or 15 and won't be turning 16 by the end of the year.