Gymnast Hong Su Jong, representative of the Gymnastics Association of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea (North Korea), was registered from 2003 to 2010 in international competitions using three different birth dates: 1985, 1986 and 1989. This story broke just before the 2010 World Championships and resulted in North Korea being banned from competition in Rotterdam. 

On November 5th, the FIG released the terms of the ban: 
"The FIG Presidential Commission confirms the proposal made by the Disciplinary Commission to suspend gymnast HONG Su Jong and the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea National Federation for a period of 2 years, from October 6, 2010 to October 5, 2012, and to forbid from participating in any capacity in any competition or activity authorised or organised by the FIG, any Union, any National Federation, any club or in any international event (incl. national for the gymnast), and to sanction the PRK National Federation to pay a fine of CHF 20’000.-."

This means no competition for 2 years and most importantly no 2012 Olympic Games for North Korean gymnasts of any FIG Discipline. That's harsh. They revoked the medals of the 2000 Chinese women's Olympic team after age falsification was confirmed, but the Chinese did not receive a ban. However, Blythe at Gymnastics Examiner pointed out that this is not their first offense by the North Koreans:
"North Korean gymnasts were banned from the 1993 World Championships after it was discovered that 1991 World bars champion Kim Gwang Suk had been registered as a 15-year-old for three years in a row at the World Championships."

While it may be harsh, the FIG defends it by saying,
"The FIG’s decision is a clear signal to those who would wilfully disregard the current rules surrounding gymnast age. The health of its athletes and respect for the law are among the International Gymnastics Federation’s highest priorities."
Enough is enough. 

Keep in mind, this is not just a ban of the women's team - it affects all FIG disciplines of North Korea, including Ri Se Gwang who spices up any vault event final: 





Here's a look at Hong Su Jong's silver medal performance in the 2007 World Vault final. Her twin sister Hong Un Jong was the 2008 Olympic Gold Medalist on Vault. 





Cha Yong Hwa has been another exciting North Korean gymnast to watch. Check out the hop full to def:


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You can't help but feel for these gymnasts who won't get the chance to compete in international competition and Olympic Games when they are at their best, but the age falsification has got to stop.

- Hear what Martha Karolyi and Alicia Sacramone had to say about this when it was first announced that North Korea would be banned from Rotterdam.  
- Read more commentary on Gymnastics Examiner
- FIG Press Release

What do you think of all this? And I wonder what Kim Jung Il thinks...