Gymnastics body recommends China loses bronze medal from 2000

Feb 27, 2010, 12:00 GMT

Lausanne, Switzerland - Gymnastics governing body FIG on Saturday announced that they had recommended to the International Olympic Committee (IOC) that China should lose its bronze medal from the Sydney Olympics.

The recommendation followed an investigation into the case of two Chinese gymnasts suspected of having falsified their dates of birth for the 2000 Olympic Games.

Athletes under 16 are not permitted to participate at the Olympics.

The first case involved Dong Fangxiao, who won a bronze medal with the Chinese team.

She competed between 1997 and 2001 and was registered with her date of birth given as January 20, 1983. At the Beijing Olympics in 2008, she applied to work as an official during the gymnastics competition, but gave her date of birth January 23, 1986.

'In the case of Dong Fangxiao, the Executive Committee constituted that there was a violation to the FIG Statutes and Regulations. Consequently, the results obtained by Dong Fangxiao at the 2000 Sydney Olympic Games have been cancelled,' FIG said in a statement.

'In addition, the FIG Executive Committee pronounced the cancellation of all results obtained by Dong Fangxiao at the 34th Artistic Gymnastics World Championships 1999 in Tianjin, of all results obtained at the FIG World Cup Series 1999 - 2000 and at the Artistic Gymnastics 2000 World Cup Final in Glasgow.'

FIG said that the Chinese Gymnastics Association should carry all the costs of the proceedings.

In the case of another gymnast, Yang Yun, FIG ruled that there was not enough evidence, even though the athlete said during an interview that she had only been 14 during the Sydney Olympics.

She later said she had made a mistake, but the interview prompted the FIG investigation.

FIG president Bruno Grandi said that his organization strongly believed in the age-limit for athletes. 'Young gymnasts cannot be manipulated. Athletes must be protected. To prevent such fraud in the future, a new licensing system has been implemented by the FIG.'

IOC spokesman Mark Adams thanked FIG for their work. 'We have noted their decision but expect people to understand that the IOC executive committee will take some time to decide this case.'

It seems quite certain though that the IOC will strip China of their bronze medal, which would push the US up to the third place.