Age claims 'are just part of US mind games'

A top Chinese gymnastics official labelled accusations of age falsification as 'typical mind games' employed by their US opponents yesterday.

Gao Jian, director of the Gymnastics Administrative Centre under the State Sports General Administration, singled out former American coach Bela Karolyi as 'going too far' to help his country disrupt the Chinese team's preparations.

'It absolutely is a mind game,' said Gao. 'They intended to disrupt our Games preparation.'

He Kexin was at the centre of the dispute.

He, who barely met the required minimum of age of 16, was alleged to be 14 and to have had her passport data falsified by sports authorities.