CHINESE WOMEN’S GYMNASTS ASKED AGAIN TO PROVE AGE
BEIJING — China was asked to provide additional documents that prove five of the six women’s gymnastics team members were old enough to compete at these Games. The request, by the International Gymnastics Federation, was made at the urging of the International Olympic Committee, despite China’s insistence that its athletes were not underage and the fact that there is no irrefutable proof to the contrary.
Still, the questions haven’t abated, and so the Chinese federation was asked one more time to prove the girls were eligible.
“It’s not a question of a final decision,” IOC spokeswoman Giselle Davies said. “We simply want the federation to work with the national federation . . . to just put to bed once and for all the questions.”
The FIG asked China for documents on He Kexin, Yang Yilin, Jiang Yuyuan, Deng Linlin and Li Shan-shan, and said it will forward all information to the IOC. The organization didn’t set a deadline, but with the Games ending Sunday, the IOC wants to dispel any lingering doubts as quickly as possible.
Questions about the Chinese women have been swirling for months, with media reports and online records suggesting that He, Yang and Jiang might be as young as 14. Gymnasts must turn 16 during the Olympic year to be eligible.
Four of China’s six medals could be affected if evidence of cheating is found. In addition to the team gold, He won the gold medal on uneven bars and Yang won bronzes on bars and the all-around.
Water polo.
After upsetting world No. 1 Croatia to win their group, the U.S. pulled off another shocker with a 10-5 win over Serbia. Azevedo scored three times, with two assists, two steals and two blocks.
Merrill Moses stopped 16 shots, including every one in the final period.
“I knew I had to play the game of my life to keep us in this,” Moses said. “It’s my best game as of yet. But there’s more to come. You’ll see.”
Next up: two-time defending gold medalist Hungary on Sunday. The Hungarians beat Montenegro 11-9 in the other semifinal.
Diving.
China is poised to go 8-for-8 in diving events, with Zhou Luxin leading after the men’s 10-meter platform preliminaries.
No country has swept the diving medals since the U.S. did in 1952. Back then, there were only four events.
Taekwondo.
The Lopez family isn’t going home with a single gold medal. But all three of them have something to show for their games.
Steven Lopez fell short in his bid for a third straight gold, taking bronze, just like his brother Mark did the day before.
Sister Diana got silver.
Steven Lopez lost for the first time since 2002. He was knocked out in the quarterfinals.
BMX.
The U.S. took three of the first six medals ever handed out in this sport. None, however, were gold.
Mike Day got silver and Donny Robinson the bronze on the men’s side. Jill Kintner survived a crash-filled women’s main event for bronze.
Baseball.
What might be the last gold medal in America’s national pastime won’t be won by America.
The U.S. squad lost 10-2 to Cuba and will now be playing Japan for the bronze on Saturday.
Cuba will face unbeaten South Korea in the title game. The Cubans will be seeking their fourth of the five medals handed out in this sport, which is not on the 2012 agenda.
The Associated Press
