FIG Executive Committee “Official News”
By Mr André GUEISBUHLER, FIG Secretary General
FIG Office Lausanne (SUI), February 26, 27 and 28, 2010
1. Following an investigation into the age of two Chinese gymnasts at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney (AUS), the FIG Executive Board has issued the following sanctions:
- The results obtained by Ms Dong Fangxiao at the 2000 Olympic Games in Sydney, the 1999 World Championships of Tianjin (CHN), the 2000 World Cup Final in Glasgow (GBR) and all tournaments included in the 1999 – 2000 Artistic Gymnastics World Cup have been declared null and void. The FIG has notified the International Olympic Committee Executive Commission as to its decision, accompanied with a recommendation to withdraw the Bronze medal won by the Chinese team in Sydney;
- Ms Yang Yun has been issued a warning;
- The Chinese Gymnastics Association has been sanctioned for failing to uphold its responsibility to verify the age and identity of its gymnasts, and will be required to cover the costs of three litigations;
2. The Federation’s financial situation is stable, with ample funds available to pursue development. The accounts and budgets have been validated and will be submitted to the FIG Council for approval in May and to the General Assembly in October;
3. Henceforth, a new flight time criteria will be used in determining final scores in Individual Trampoline. The criteria will reduce the number of ties;
4. A project providing education grants for gymnasts with financial difficulties has been accepted. The IOC supports the initiative;
5. The Executive Board ruled in favour of the following changes in nationality:
- Kieran Behan MAG gymnast, formerly GBR, henceforth IRL;
- Winia Delgado Perez , WAG judge, formerly CUB, henceforth MEX;
- Tatiana Kovaleva, TRA judge, formerly RUS, henceforth USA;
- Yelena Meirzon, RG gymnast, formerly LAT, henceforth ISR;
- Keziah Oliver, RG gymnast, formerly AUS, henceforth NZL;
6. The RTP List (Registered Testing Pool) with the names of elite gymnasts subject to WADA random and out of competition drug testing has been accepted. The list is updated annually;
7. A total of 250 doping controls will be carried out in 2010 at official FIG competitions;
8. Reference judges will be used at the 2010 Artistic European Championships in Birmingham (GBR). As a second test run, this will provide an opportunity to underscore the tests carried out in 2009.
9. The Executive has ruled in favour of a new format and regulations for Artistic Gymnastics World Cup events, both per apparatus and for the All-around competition. The project will take effect in 2011. Among the new aspects featured are two competition levels (A and B tournaments) and prize money of up to 100,000 CHF for A tournaments. One trophy per year will be awarded per category.
10. A bid by the Bulgarian Federation and the City of Varna for organisation of the 28th Trampoline Gymnastics World Championships in 2013 has been accepted.
The next meeting of the Executive Committee will be held in conjunction with the FIG Council, May 10 and 11, 2010 in Chiba, Japan.
