China Gymnastics Underage?

[stinkfish]

if they're the best in the world what does it matter, regardless of their age?  Do gymnasts have an advantage gained by being 2 years younger than the other girl?

It matters because rules are rules, and sportsmanship is sportsmanship. What will happen to your favorite college team if one of their players had grades changed so that they could play in the big game, or if their star was given a Lexus by some pro scout, or agent? Cheating is cheating.

[Phishfan]

I don't think there is any doubt about the government having a hand in this, but that doesn't mean anything.

[BingeBag]

I don't think there is any doubt about the government having a hand in this, but that doesn't mean anything.

Exactly. It's not like we are asking to throw these girls in jail. Strip their medals, if this is true. Just because you feel for the girls situation shouldn't lead to circumventing the rules that everyone had to follow. If there is a problem with this, maybe people might not be asking the right questions. Like why should a age limit be placed on this? If we are looking for the best, why should they eliminate the younger girls. That's literally no different than setting the age limit at 30 so that middle aged women could participate.

[StL FinFan]

It was stated before that the age rule was put in place because they were worried about the permanent damage that could occur to a young person's body trying to compete at this level.

[Dphins4me]

  China bending to rules?  Say it ain't so.   Say it ain't so.

What is this world coming to.  I guess next they are going to be telling us that the food from them is tainted.  It just can't be so.

[SportsChick]

You cheat, you lose your metals. These girls have to know this is being questioned by everyone and their uncle (and has been for 2 weeks now!) Rules are rules, they have to turn 16 in the calendar year in which the Olympics are held. Period, end of story

[Dave Gray]

Of course, if you can't prove that they're underage, they get to keep the medals.  I agree with Brian (and I think everyone does) on that point.

But, if they can prove cheating, which will be difficult, but it appears that some evidence does exist, it should be interesting.

Personally,  I hope they get caught and China is shamed.

[landlocked]

Brian is right in all of his arguments.It's not like they have a choice over there and they won the medals proving that they are the best in the world at what they do.I say let 'em keep their medals.

[Dave Gray]

There's no way.

The Olympics have a lot of political statements, and China is the world symbol for Communist might.  There is very much a pissing contest between the US and China, in terms of medal counts, and the like, and it makes statements about the discipline and the success of their people and political system.  It's not just about the individuals.   (Think of what the USA/Russia hockey game meant...way more than just a hockey game.)

If it's found out that those girls cheated, even if it was unknowingly, their medals SHOULD be stripped, and WILL be stripped.  The Olympics are strict and don't screw around with cheating.  This wouldn't be the first time medals were taking for a violation, and it certainly won't be the last.

And, their breaking the rules gave them a distinct advantage that other girls didn't have.  By not taking the medals away from the Chinese, you're robbing the silver medalists of what they earned.

[Frimp]

Its very simple. Strip the medals, and move the girls and their families to the US under asylum. There is no doubt in my mind that the communist government there had a hand in this. Have your daughter compete or else.

I'm not mad at the girls, or the coaches. But, what do I know. If it was a government issue, it will go away soon. If not, the coaches will be nailed to a cross.

Still, I think the girls and their families should be granted immediate asylum in the US.

[Dave Gray]

^^

I think you have a very Western view of the situation.  China isn't like that.  They are all about honor.  ....at any cost.  They would gladly lie to make their country look better.  Shame/Honor plays a huge role in their society.

When things happen there that are disastrous, like a mine collapse or something, they don't talk about.  The families of the dead don't call out for answers.  It's quiet, because these failures are shameful to their society.  This is the same kind of thing.

I don't think anything will come of this, but I would be really surprised is they were of age.  Cheating in the Olympics, especially by host nations, is not uncommon, unfortunately, and there are many, many cases of fixed judges and other cover-ups.

They need to get caught and made an example of, so this stuff doesn't keep happening.

[SportsChick]

I remember a winter olympic athlete who was stipped of a medal after testing positive on a drug test because of cough medicine the team doc gave her - she didn't know she couldn't have it. I find this to be a similar circumstance

[AprFools_Phins]

It was stated before that the age rule was put in place because they were worried about the permanent damage that could occur to a young person's body trying to compete at this level.

And I heard too that the younger they are they are more flexible- and less afraid to take risks. They are def. underage and their medals need to be stripped. But since it was the Chinese gov't that doctored the documents I doubt we will be able to prove they are underage.

Did anyone else notice how the announcers majorly disagreed with the scores the Americans and Chinese were getting? The Americans not high enough, the Chinese too high. (Except in team comp. Alicia did enough to kick us to 2nd place) Does anyone else think something was going on there too?

[Dave Gray]

I'm not really one for conspiracy theories and sour grapes, but in this particular case, we thought they were underage, and upon research, we found documents (now destroyed) that say they are, in fact, 14.

Yes, these documents could be in error.  But when you go looking for discrepancies, based on suspicion, and you find documents that verify that suspicion, that'd be a huge coincidence if it were just a type-o.

[Brian Fein]

How many Lombardi trophies did they take away from the Patriots when they were caught violating the rules?

And don't you dare try to tell me "but that's different" cause its not.