IOC strips bronze medal from China for using underage women’s gymnast at 2000 Sydney Olympics

IOC strips 2000 Games team bronze medal from China

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates — The International Olympic Committee has stripped China of its bronze medal from the women’s team competition at the 2000 Sydney Games for using an underage gymnast.

Dong Fangxiao’s results from Sydney were wiped out in February after the International Gymnastics Federation determined she was only 14 at the 2000 Olympics. Gymnasts must turn 16 during the Olympic year to be eligible.

Because Dong’s scores contributed to China winning the bronze, the FIG recommended the IOC take the medal back.

As expected, the IOC executive board formally stripped the medal Wednesday. The medal now goes to the U.S. women, who had been fourth.

Dong was also stripped of her sixth-place result in the individual floor exercises and seventh place in the vault.