IOC monitoring case against China's 2000 gymnasts

Associated PressLAUSANNE, Switzerland -- The International Olympic Committee said it will take "necessary measures" if gymnastics officials determine that China used two underage gymnasts at the 2000 Summer Games.

The investigation into Dong Fangxiao and Yang Yun's eligibility has been turned over to a disciplinary commission, the International Gymnastics Federation announced Tuesday. If they are found to be underage, the commission could recommend sanctions to the FIG's executive committee.

But it would be up to the IOC to determine what, if anything, to do about the medals China won in Sydney. The Chinese women won the bronze team medal, and Yang was the bronze medalist on the uneven bars.

"The IOC will take necessary measures upon the decision of the FIG disciplinary commission," IOC spokeswoman Sandrine Tonge said Wednesday. "We're following the case and awaiting their findings."

Questions about Dong and Yang's ages arose during the FIG's investigation into the eligibility of several members of China's team that won the gold medal at the Beijing Games. The 2008 gymnasts were cleared in October, but the FIG said it wasn't satisfied with "the explanations and evidence provided to date" for Dong and Yang.

The gymnasts are suspected of being as young as 14 in Sydney. Gymnasts must turn 16 during an Olympic year to be eligible to compete.

The disciplinary commission, formed last week, has already received all of the evidence and met once. Its decision is expected by September, at the latest.

Neither Yang nor Dong could be contacted by The Associated Press on Wednesday. Calls to Yang's cell phone number were answered by a "cannot be connected" message, while Dong's number is no longer in use.

Zhou Qiurui, a spokeswoman for the Chinese Gymnastics Association, said the association had received a notice from the FIG and was willing to cooperate, but did not have any details on how that would be done.

"Lu Shanzhen, the deputy director of our association who is in charge of the women's team, is not in Beijing," Zhou said.
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Associated Press researcher Xi Yue in Beijing contributed to this report.
Copyright 2009 by The Associated Press