IOC says it has no proof of underage gymnasts

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BEIJING -- The International Olympic Committee finally held a news conference Friday to address the issue of underage Chinese gymnasts that has been on the verge of boiling over since the week before the Games opened.

It appeared promising when the IOC announced in calling the news conference that ‘more information has come to light.’’

At the conclusion of the much-anticipated news conference, however, it was unclear whether there was new information.

IOC spokeswoman Giselle Davies said the committee has asked the International Gymnastics Federation to investigate ‘what have been a number of questions and apparent discrepancies.’’

But the IOC’s sports director, Christophe Dubi, added, ‘So far, everything that has been received demonstrates we have no problem for the eligibility for the competitors.’’

There is only one way that this is going to be resolved: The Chinese government will have to investigate its own gymnastics federation.

What are the chances of that?

If history is an indication, it could happen.

In the 1990s, when Chinese swimmers and distance runners were dominating, many of them turned up positive in drug tests. That embarrassed the Chinese government, which cracked down on its own coaches. As a result, the Chinese no longer dominate those sports. But at least no one suspects they’re cheating.

If it could be proved that the Chinese are using underage gymnasts, and most evidence suggests that they are, that would bring similar shame upon the government and its sports program. The government would be wise to get to the bottom of this or risk having the country’s remarkable Olympic success tainted.

-- Randy Harvey