Something's Fishy in China.....

One reason is because they don't compete internationally, except in major competitions. So we don't see them until they are very good.

As for the doping concern, based on their history, it's fair. But, if you look at the Chinese who doped in the past, these girls are different. The last wave were huge, strong girls who had relatively poor technique and just muscled through the water. Their girls at this Olympics are excellent technicians. And they don't appear to be any bigger than any of the other girls ont he deck.

Could be.....just seems a bit to convienient for me.

Yeah...no doubt.

What of the testing protocol ... isn't it supposed to be the most rigorous in the world?

It is...but do you not think that the Chinese Government would come up with some "super EPO" or something completely non related in order to win. And not just the Chinese for that matter (although they have had the most "unexpected" success)

I dunno...Lezak's anchor was pretty "unexpected."

hmmm, more to ponder

http://sports.yahoo.com/olympics/beijing/gymnastics/news?slug=ap-gym--underagechinese&prov=ap&type=lgns

Must be convenient to have state controlled media, especially when your winning ways are in question.

But so is everybody, really.

Here's a comparison of time progression and world rankings for the last 3 years of the Chinese 200 butterfliers and Rebecca Soni, who won the 200 breast for the US last night:

Rebecca Soni (USA):

• 2008: 2:20.00 (1)
• 2007: 2:23.36 (2)
• 2006: 2:31.54 (57)

Liu Zige (CHN):

• 2008: 2:04:18 (1)
• 2007: 2:09:45 (23)
• 2006: 2:12:13 (44)

Jiao Liuyang (CHN):

• 2008: 2:04.72 (2)
• 2007: 2:07.06 (5)
• 2006: 2:08.54 (8)

So, in 3 years, Soni dropped 11.54 seconds while the Chinese dropped 7.95 and 3.82 seconds, respectivley. Those are only a couple of examples, but if you're gonna suspect the Chinese of doping, you probably need to be equally suspicious of others as well.

As a side note, the US leads Chinese in positive drug tests from their Olympic team 1 to nothing.

always hard to speculate on drugs v 1% performance....however, those little China girls are NOT 16. There is no way on god's green earth. They now have "evidence" one is 13. Will IOC do anything? They dare not offend the host country.

They created the rules on age for a very good reason....long term effect on the girls. The young ones have flexibility and size relative the the equipment advantages. The downside it their bodies are not ready for the pounding and they will end up with long term health problems. All nations agreed to raising the age even China. I guess the host gets to blatantly cheat.

I teach my girls that you can't be proud of an accomplishment if you cheated to get it - sports, school, etc.