Why isn't the olympic committee doing something about China's underaged gymnasts?

Question

It just isn't right, but no one is doing anything about it. China is blatantly breaking the rules!

Answer 1

Don't you think it's ironic that the whole issue of gymnasts' age was stirred up by Bela Karolyi . . . who coached 14 year old Nadia Comaneci in 1976? He wasn't complaining then. He's only annoyed that the USA doesn't do it too!!

Answer 2

I don't think it should be a rule that underage kids can't compete, if they can do it, they can do it. It shouldn't matter how old they are.

Answer 3

Innocent until proven Guilty.  Don't we all need to maintain some sort of respect?  Come on! Those girls were incredible! The Americans ( I am one) just don't have as much discipline, and the Chinese put more priority on this type of sport for young girls.  These little girls were lucky to be born alive, and to be able to be trained to do something beneficial to their country.  I was so excited to watch them. The American team seemed very nervous and didn't even look like they were having a good time!  It's about enjoying it, or at least looking like you are.  i agree that they look underage, but we have to consider the different culture and geneology of these girls also.  Our gymnasts looked like giants compared to these girls!  :)  

Answer 4

Because they are not under aged, Asian looks younger than their age.

Answer 5

Let me ask you guys. I am a Chinese girl who is 4'9". How old do you think I am? I'll tell you guys later. The think these girls look young. Chinese girls and guys always look young for their age. They may be 13,14, or 15...but for those who say they look young for their age...I would say that is wrong. But then again who wants to look older than their age when they are old.  

Answer 6

where is the proof? Do you believe in everything the media tells you>?

Answer 7

Until proven, China won. Quit bitching about this c**p.

Answer 8

You really cant judge the appearance of Asian men and women cause looks can be deceiving. They usually looks younger than their age.

Were you watching the performances? Chinese gymnast did a splendid job among other athletes. I mean those older athletes should have much greater chances of winning  the gold medal but they made mistakes in their performance and just ain't better enough for gold. If they were cheating like bribing the judges or taking performance enhancing job should it more of an issue. Once the Olympic Committee do their investigations then if they are underage then that is the time to striped them off. For now, they are the best and they deserve to win.  

Answer 9

Why aren't they making sure Phelps isn't doping?

Have you ever thought that is what the rest of the world is wondering?

Answer 10

Look at the girls' pictures and decide for yourself:

http://snapolympics.com/v/controversial/...

Answer 11

Why are people blinded that IOC has boundaries in gymnastics? THEY DON'T. ICF is and they aren't investigating it because they say they are 16...they are 16.

Answer 12

The IOC is incredibly corrupt and is more interested in being friendly to those who will give them the largest bribes.

We would really have to rely on the Gymnastics governing association (FIG) to really enforce the rules since that specific age rule is gymnastics specific and is a FIG rule, not IOC (same issue exists for the ISU in the winter Olympics).  FIG doesn't have the resources to enforce this rule if the government is issuing false passports.

To the other people posting: I remember reading articles right after Athens about two 10 year olds that China was prepping for the Beijing games, which would mean they are 14 now (unfortunately I don't remember which two gymnasts were in the article).  This is a relatively new FIG rule, so when most of these girls began training their coaches didn't know they would be restricted.

To pollyfan:  Pay closer attention.  Karolyi has been talking about how much he disagrees with the rule since the age rule was introduced.  He doesn't like the rule but he has said that as it is a current rule he will follow it.

Answer 13

Home turf. Let China's time to shine reign.

But If In deed they did cheat (which I doubt) remember Karma is a B!t(h

Congrats China!

Go Team USA!

Answer 14

I am wondering the same thing, and I hate the fact that people are calling Americans SORE LOSERS, no actually I'm happy with Team USA's silver medal, but if someone cheated than their medals should be stripped.

Edit: To the girl above me, it's already been confirmed that atleast one of the girls are younger than 16.

EDIT AGAIN: To F. L Michael Phelps gets drug tested after EVERY race.

Answer 15

They are doing something Chris Hansen from to catch a predator is on his way there with some sweet tea and a stool.

Answer 16

They have legitimate passports. What do you want them to do? Not everything on the web is the truth and there are many mistakes in newspaper articles.

China won, deal with it.

Answer 17

China is not blatantly breaking the rules. At least not until you come up with solid proof.

This whole thing is about politics. The US and the West will stop at nothing to prove that China is evil, corrupted, (insert negative adjective here). And what better opportunity than to use their own gymnasts against them? yay!! two birds with one stone .. bash their government, and make them look bad in the olympics!!

Anyway, regarding your question "Why isn't the olympic committee doing something about China's underaged gymnasts?"

First of all, hasn't the OIC already done something? They demanded passports, the government showed passports. Passports passed. Gymnasts passed. Gymnasts competed as expected.

This seems perfectly reasonable to me. Only the sinophobic folks would think that this is not all right. You don't hate China, do you?

Secondly, and this is for the sinophobic folks .. what would you like the investigation to do? You would definitely like the investigation to come out with the conclusion that China cheated. But what if China didn't cheat? (as many had pointed out, Asians typically look younger than their age; and I have many Asian friends, so I can confirm that)

If the investigation turns out answers that are not what the Americans want, guess what will happen? The US media and folks like you will bash the investigators .. call them things like brainwashed, bribed, puppets of the Chinese government.

In other words, those crying for an investigation are merely hoping for China to surrender their olympic gold medals. Either that, or they just hate China so much that they have nothing better to do than to complain about China any way they can.

Btw, I am not Chinese or Asian. Do not call me a puppet of the Chinese government. I'm just an American who can think a little further ahead.

Answer 18

It is going to be tough to prove, but I am sure they have a lot of people looking into it.

If they do rule that the gymnasts were underage they the team will be stripped of the medals.

Answer 19

I think their ages were confirmed with passports. But the Chinese could have easily made fake ones

F . L - they have to take drug tests after every race

Answer 20

Well, it seems that IOC is slow. I mean they are still investigating cheating for 2000 Olympics. That was 8 years ago! They discovered some who used drugs and they lost their golds.

I don't know if they are going to investigate this one as of now. Who knows. But they should definitely investigate this. If they didn't cheat, good for them but they still should investigate. This is giving all the wrong signals.

Michael Phelps is getting drug tests almost every day, before his event.

Answer 21

That buy who survive the earthquake is 9 years old but he looked like 5 years old to me. Is China also lying about that boy's age and why would they do that and why would the boy also help to lie?

He does look too young to be 9 years old.  

Answer 22

I would like to respond to the post written by PollyFan.

Before you started criticizing Bela Karolyi, you should have done your research.  Not only has he publicly stated on TV that he is not in favor of age limits for gymnasts, his stance has been reiterated in articles.  Please see my reference at the bottom of this post.

One of the reasons Karolyi is in favor of abolishing the current age limit rule is to PREVENT age-fixing.  I tend to agree with him.  HOWEVER, the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) has set forth specific guidelines for gymnasts.  When the RULES are broken, the playing field is no longer equal.  When Nadia Comaneci competed in the 1976 Olympics, she was 14 years of age, which was the minimum age limit at that time.  

If you are wondering what the advantages are to being under the age limit, please read the following three quotes that were taken from Hannah Beech’s article for Time Magazine.  

“Young athletes can be designated as younger than they are so they can dominate in age-based competitions …”

“… limber, prepubescent bodies can outmaneuver more mature athletes ...”

“There's little question that if the age minimum were dropped, countries like the U.S. could field their younger — and often smaller and more fearless — gymnasts.”  Note the words “smaller” and “fearless” in the last quote.