PtG Article 16.03.2009

China athletes 'faked their age'

Bone tests on teenage Chinese athletes have shown that thousands had faked their age, often in order to keep competing in junior events.

A study in the southern province of Guangdong found one in five had lied, with some discovered to be seven years older than their registered age.

At last year's Olympics, some of China's winning gymnasts were alleged to be below the minimum age of 16.

After an inquiry, the sport's governing body cleared them of any wrongdoing.

At the weekend it emerged that a badminton player who had won a provincial title as a 14-year-old admitted to being 17 at the time.

SOURCE: BBC Sport