I agree with that, actually. But I do see doping as a separate issue from age restrictions. Even if the Chinese team was underage, they were not doped. And since the spirit of the Olympics is the competition between humans (not pharmaceutical companies), I don't see people who are underage as going against the olympic spirit. But honestly, that's just my opinion. And I will admit, if there are established rules and guidelines, they should be followed. My post was really more a thought piece than a suggestion for new policies.

But, as far as doping is concerned... I deplore it. I've mentioned to my sister before (who I'm watching the games with), that if I find out M. Phelps is being doped a few months from now, I might try to initiate physical violence towards him (I said something else actually, but I don't want anyone here to misunderstand my sarcasm :).) Point being, I have no tolerance for doping. I was a huge fan of Mark McGwire in 1998 (he was my biggest hero that summer), and I'm still smarting from baseballs doping scandal as a result. And, for some reason, just as I was getting over that I was getting into bike racing, then Landis happened! I can't stand it anymore! If I hear about another doping scandal, trust me, I'll be the first one there with the tar and feathers!

Here's a piece on doping in the Olympics -- a chronic problem: "Drugs and Sport"

Well, I've stopped watching before winners were announced in the women's gymnastics and will not watch any more of the Olympics. Several years ago, I gave up on figure skating and pairs skating, and now gymnastics. I can't watch.

Two Chinese girls who made mistakes obvious to me (I was a gymnast 50+ years ago) got scores oblivious to their mistakes, while several other nationalities lost points for flaws I couldn't detect, i.e. in near perfect performances. Yet another set of political scores; just like figure skating. I'm done. It just frustrates me to watch -- it's no pleasure in it to watch bias at work, to see obvious merit not rewarded and obvious mistakes ignored. My sense of fairness is outraged. I should point out that I'm not biased in this -- there are no Canadians in contention. The Olympics really are a sham. I won't stay up to watch any Olympic events again; my wife gave up in the last Winter Olympics for the same reasons, and she was right.

[EDIT] I see this morning that the final order was correct in my view. Maybe it was just the balance beam judges. Glad to see the correct order.