While a number of athletes in the ongoing Rio 2016 Olympics are under intense scrutiny over doping issue, including Chinese swimmer Sun Yang, for the country’s female gymnastics team, the issue is age.
It’s not only because the youthful-looking team members appear to be in their early teens, which is something quite common among Asians, but also because of previous accusations of cheating in 2008 when the Summer Games was hosted by Beijing and 2000 when it was hosted by Sydney. The International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) specifies that all team members must turn 16 on an Olympic year, reported Next Shark.
In 2008, He Kexin was reportedly only 14, but because FIG’s investigation failed to prove she was underage, the Chinese team was not sanctioned by the federation. But in 2000, after it was later proven one member failed to meet FIG’s minimum of 16, China’s bronze medal was recalled.
However, Ye Zhennan, team manager, assured all current members meet FIG’s age rule. Ye said Shang Chunsong is 20, Wang Yan is 16, Fan Yilin is 16, Mao Yi is 19 and Liu Tingting is 15. Reserves Liu Jinru is 15, Luo Huan is 16 and Tan Jiaxin is 19.
Fan, winner of the uneven bars at the 2015 World Championships in Glasgow in November, has the most experience, while it is Liu’s first international competition. Fan explained, “Many of us start gymnastics at a very young age and although we may lack international exposure compared to athletes from other countries, we are under no pressure and can always mount strong challenges.”
China’s men's gymnastics team only has 27-year-old Zhang Chenglong who has international exposure as member of the group that won the gold in London in 2012. But the four other members – Liu Yang, Lin Chaopan, You Hao and Deng Shudi - are all making their Olympic debuts, reports South China Morning Post.