NKorean gymnast investigated for three birthdates

[Elmore Furth]

North Korea's Hong Su Jong has three different birthdates listed in three different international competitions and the International Gymnastics Federation is now investigating for possible age falisfication.

I thought it was normal to lie about one's age and weight. Works for me.

Hong's birthdate is March 9, 1989, on the entry list for the world championships later this month in Rotterdam, Netherlands. But she had a March 9, 1985, birthdate at the 2004 Olympics and the 2006 world championships, and a March 9, 1986, birthdate at the 2007 world championships, where she won the silver medal on vault.

If Hong was born in 1989, she would have been ineligible to compete in Athens. Gymnasts must turn 16 in the calendar year of an Olympics to be eligible.

The FIG's investigation of Hong comes six months after China was stripped of its bronze medal from the 2000 Olympics for using an underage gymnast.

To prevent age manipulation, the FIG last year began requiring all junior and senior gymnasts who represent their countries at most international meets to have a license. The licenses include gymnasts' name, sex, country and date of birth, and are their proof of age for their entire career.

NKorean gymnast investigated for three birthdates

[joeybee12]

1. The younger and smaller you are, the better you are...at least in this

sport...probably a lot of them do it...especially those not in open countries with 24x7 news and teh internets.