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Chinese olympians investigated for age fraud

(China Daily)
Updated: 2009-06-26 09:35

China has promised to co-operate with the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) in their investigation into the age of Chinese gymnasts Yang Yun and Dong Fangxiao.

In a press release on its official website Tuesday, FIG announced it suspected Yang and Dong "of having violated minimum age requirements" at the Sydney Olympics and that it had started to investigate.

Chinese authorities promised to assist FIG, but denied the allegations.

"We have already received notification from FIG and we will communicate with them actively," Lu Shanzhen, head coach of China's women's gymnastics team and vice-director of China's Gymnastics Administrative Center, was quoted by sports.cn on Wednesday.

"The ages of Dong and Yang are in accord with the rules of FIG concerning the Olympic Games. We will work closely with FIG toward the investigation," Lu added.

Yang and Dong helped the Chinese women's team to bronze at the 2000 Sydney Games, where Yang also claimed bronze on the uneven bars.

FIG said its decision was taken "after the Federation sought legal advice confirming that the statute of limitations had not yet expired, and that the FIG is in fact the appropriate authority competent to a full investigation."

Related readings:  Chinese Olympic champion gymnasts cleared over age  Golden gymnasts not fazed by age allegations

A Disciplinary Commission was established by the Executive Committee on June 19, 2009.

It consists of Tunisian Rached Gharbi, Portuguese Margarida Dias Ferreira and Belgian Marc Schoenmaekers .

If the commission finds violations were in fact made, the Disciplinary Commission will propose sanctions to its Executive Committee.

The findings are expected by the next FIG Executive Committee meeting in Lausanne at the end of September.