02. Oktober 2008  
Beijing / China  
Artistic Gymnastics

Chinese Olympic gymnasts not underage

He, Kexin ... old enough!

Chinese female gymnasts who competed at this year'sBeijing Olympics were not underage, the sport's governing body said Wednesday after investigating claims the Games hosts fielded ineligible athletes.
The International Gymnastics Federation (F.I.G.) had asked the Chinese federation to submit documents proving the birthdates of five members of the gold medal-winning team, He Kexin, Jiang Yuyuan, Li Shanshan, Deng Linlin and Yang Yilin.
The International Olympic Committee (IOC) had specifically asked the FIG to investigate double Olympic gold-medallist He, Kexin who was registered as 16 although media reports suggested she may have been 14.
Gymnasts must 16 in the year of an Olympics to take part. "Originals of official documents received from the Chinese Gymnastics Association, specifically passports, identity cards and family booklets or 'Household Registers', confirm the ages of the athletes," the FIG said in a statement.
* Chinese press