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Under age gymnast controversy put to rest
08/21/08
If the federation had found evidence that the gymnasts were underage, it could have affected four of China's medals. In addition to the team gold and He Kexin's gold on bars, Yang Yilin won bronze medals in the all-around and uneven bars.Chinese coach Lu Shanzhen told The Associated Press they gave the FIG new documents on Thursday to try to remove any doubts about He's age, including an old passport, residency card and her current ID card.
(I would put a pictures of Kexin up, but I don't want the government seizing my computer and putting me on some list.)
From here.
Without proof that she's underage, it's just a matter "He said, IOC said," in which case I think we have to accept He's documentation. After all, it's an official Chinese government ID card. You can't just buy those in an alley.
Seriously, when an American athlete cheats, it's on him. When a communist athlete cheats, it sullies the whole government if not society. And what people sell their soul for is telling. This isn't war, peace, or even money. It's just a darn medal!
2 comments
Er, no. First off, you can definitely buy them in an alley. But that's not the point. Chinese gymnasts have already been found to falsify their ages in the 2004 Olympics. Your reasoning is exactly backwards. The point is that since there is ample evidence of a **fraudulent** passport being submitted, the government or corrupt officials are probably involved and it looks like it has happened with other members on the team, so the government and team are implicated. If 13-year old He Kexin had taken steroids and not told anyone, then she would be individually responsible. 
"Innocent till proven guilty"
Yes, it's a great principle. Too bad so few Americans actually believe in it. 
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