A quick look at the Chinese pre-pubescent girl's gymnastics team, with the new 'flexible birthday feature' makes one wonder if the anti-doping overlord hasn't emerged into the 2008 Olympics. We wondered if these girls qualify for kindergarten this year in Ohio?
US Olympic coach Bela Karolyi isn't the least bit pleased.
"They are using half-people," Karolyi said. "One of the biggest frustrations is, what arrogance. These people think we are stupid. "
Everything seems to be enhanced in China: the fireworks, the little girls, the athletes. Reuters covers the sad record of Chinese doping infractions...it takes 3 Internet pages.
This girls gymnastic team seems incredibly young. One wonders about the anti-doping. Like delaying puberty with a drug such as metformin, or histrelin, or even gene-doping. Intense exercise can delay puberty too.
Low-dose metformin treatment over four years was associated with later menarche, half as much fat mass gain, and less insulin resistance among low birthweight girls who developed pubic hair before age eight, Lourdes Ibanez, M.D., Ph.D., of the University of Barcelona in Spain, reported at the Endocrine Society meeting.
The drugs inhibit the hypothalamic release of gonadotropins, thus delaying those nasty things from puberty such as weight gain, expanded pelvic bones, increased fat, breasts, and menstruation. Cute, huh? Like the team.
Salon discusses this:
Why does being younger provide an advantage for a female gymnast?
Nellie Kim, a five-time Olympic gold medalist for the former Soviet Union, says it's because they're lighter and more fearless, which allows them to perform more difficult maneuvers. Kim was 23 when she competed in her final Olympics in 1980, where she won two golds.
The Vienna Boys Choir once used 'castration' to keep those young voices high. Why not keep those gymnasts young?
The Chinese coach is no dummy. Here is his quote:
The Chinese coach, Lu Shanzen smartly responded, "If you think our girls are little because of looks, then maybe you should think the Europeans and Americans are strong because of doping."
The Chinese girl in the second picture looks sick. It is interesting that when Americans loose they always like to question their rivals victory. Americans are as dirty as any other country in the world. Americans have access to a more sophiscated system of doping. But now the rest of the world is catching up.
Posted by: Yes | 08/13/2008 at 16:52
It is only the histrelin that inhibits gonadrotropins - not metformin, right?
Posted by: Millard Baker | 08/13/2008 at 18:07
I don't think Americans are unique in questioning the opposition. It seems to be universal. Of course I admit that every loss I suffered as an athlete or a coach was because someone cheated. :-)
Americans may seem like jerks, but when defeated by a superior opponent, we can concede...example like Libby Tricket (Aus, swimming) or Stephanie Rice. Americans admire the superior athlete.
Is the USA as dirty as any other country? In certain sports yes. The culture of the athletes is all important. For instance in basketball, the USA is not 'dirty'. And in this Olympics the USA looks better because BALCO cleaned up track and field to a degree. But yes, cheating is universal.
Be careful in thinking that the American press (or the American corporation PR machine) represents the American opinion.
Posted by: Steroids | 08/13/2008 at 21:16
"...For instance in basketball, the USA is not 'dirty'. And in this Olympics the USA looks better because BALCO cleaned up track and field to a degree."
Hahaha. Now THAT's good comedy, a double-whammy of sarcasm (I hope).
Posted by: Methuselah | 08/14/2008 at 10:51
Kinda sarcastic.
Basketball players don't dope. They do alot of other things, but they don't use steroids. PEDs have not made it into the bball culture.
And by saying BALCO cleaned up US track and field, we were half sarcastic and half reflective.
The BALCO scandal brought to light the widespread doping culture in track and field (and baseball too). Many of the drug-cheats were nailed. So the field was cleaned up somewhat by convictions.
The thunder of the BALCO investigation, while producing lightweight legal sentences, did seem to intimidate potential dopers.
We would have no reason to think the USA wears any kind of halo when it comes to doping.
BTW, I think you will find Americans can be very critical of their culture when moments of honesty filter through. :-)
Posted by: Steroid Nation | 08/14/2008 at 15:11
lay off the insinuations, gary.
have a little respect for these little girls' hard work.
Posted by: oh yea? | 12/02/2008 at 09:03
This is a controversial topic. Well, there is a possibility that the Chinese really used some drugs to help their athletes and there is also the possibility that they are just talented and well trained teenage boys and girls. We'll never know.
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