China On August 21, 2008, the
IOC instructed the
International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) to investigate allegations that Chinese gymnast
He Kexin was underaged and therefore ineligible to compete during the Olympic gymnastics competition. The FIG requires that all gymnasts be at least 16 years of age in the Olympic calendar year. His discoveries support earlier reports from The New York Times and other bloggers regarding He's age discrepancy. Earlier, several bloggers found links to news stories and photo captions from 2007 and early 2008, including stories in the state-run
Xinhua news service, that cited He's age as 13. This ruling confirmed the FIG's initial conclusions. Though some media outlets have voiced doubts about the decision, the gymnasts have been cleared by the FIG of any wrongdoing.
North Korea In 2014, North Korean female gymnast
Cha Yong-hwa was the subject of a disciplinary hearing because of a false passport used to falsify her age. The FIG decided to withdraw her license and nullify all her results, including the results from the 2008 Olympics. ==See also==