[irishjuggler]

Well, I’m in San Francisco, a city with a huge Chinese population. I see Chinese teens all the time. There’s no way that a couple of those gymnasts are 16. More like 12.

[oyez]

The Chinese control the paper work in this case. Too bad there isn’t a blood or urine test what will revel a person’s age.

[ChiMark]

Could the Chinese use hormone blocking drugs?

You bet!

Those girls if aged 16 are doctored up to keep them from maturing. No breast or hip development.

[ThanhPhero]

You are in a city with a large Chinese-American population. The girls you see are taller and heavier than their counterparts in China. The Viet kids here, when they go back to VN for a visit, are identified by the locals immediately as Viet Kieu (expats) because they are taller and bulkier than the locals. Unless you have long been close with the Chinese population in SF you likely cannot estimate age of females below 40 and above 2 very well at all.It is easier with boys once they hit puberty.

All that said, I have no doubt that the Chinese government is using underage girls for gymnastics.It is one sport where the peak seems to be at a very young age for girls and Chinese, being of Communist persuasion, have no sense of fair play or following rules. They are only concerned with what gets the most glory and demonstrates Socialist and Chinese "superiority."

[roses of sharon]

Any mother knows those girls were NOT 16, especially gymnastic mothers, (like me), LOL.

Regardless of ethnicity.