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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
|---|---|
| China athletes 'faked their age' | China athletes 'faked their age' |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Bone tests on teenage Chinese athletes have shown that thousands had faked their age, often in order to keep competing in junior events. | 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. | 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. | 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. | 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. | |
| 'Widespread practice' | 'Widespread practice' |
| The tests were carried out on teenage athletes registered with sports academies in the province of Guangdong. | The tests were carried out on teenage athletes registered with sports academies in the province of Guangdong. |
| The youths were X-rayed to try to determine their real age. | The youths were X-rayed to try to determine their real age. |
| The province's governing body found more than 3,000 who had lied about how old they were - about a fifth of those tested. | The province's governing body found more than 3,000 who had lied about how old they were - about a fifth of those tested. |
| It is an embarrassment for China which denied allegations during last year's Olympics that its athletes, in particular its gymnasts, had not been honest about how old they were. | It is an embarrassment for China which denied allegations during last year's Olympics that its athletes, in particular its gymnasts, had not been honest about how old they were. |
| For talented young people from poorer areas in China, sports tournaments can offer a chance to make a better life. | For talented young people from poorer areas in China, sports tournaments can offer a chance to make a better life. |
| Reaction in the Chinese media to these reports suggests the practice is widespread, but some commentators point out all that is needed is more rigorous checks to reveal who is cheating. | Reaction in the Chinese media to these reports suggests the practice is widespread, but some commentators point out all that is needed is more rigorous checks to reveal who is cheating. |