Huh.

[apocalypsos]

The International Olympic Committee has ordered an investigation into the age of Chinese gymnast He Kexin, The Times of London reports. Faced with almost insurmountable evidence which suggests that He is two years younger than the birth date listed on her Chinese passport, the IOC has launched an inquiry that could result in the stripping of He's gold medals.

I know it's been harped on to death at this point, but it's not like this would be rule-breaking on the level of "her bra strap was showing." It's a simple rule. If the Chinese broke that rule for an added advantage, that's cheating.

I think the thing that bothers me about the whole situation -- well, aside from the obvious -- is that the Karolyis probably made matters worse because most of the time, it sounded as if they were complaining not because they were mad the Chinese may have used underage gymnasts, but because they couldn't do it too. They both sounded whiny rather than justified.

I don't know about anybody else, but I'd be just as annoyed if it were the Americans using underage gymnasts. In fact, I'd probably be doubly pissed because it would mean that the U.S. Olympic team knowingly put the integrity of whatever medals might result into question, and they're representing us on the international field.