Full Twist previously posted on the DPR Korea Gymnastics Association’s extraordinary congress which was summoned to discuss the “fatal circumstances” that they are now face since their 2 year ban from the FIG. New executive members were elected to the Association during the Extraordinary Congress and the old members, well, they were fired.

Today the FIG has issued a statement today as a result of the DPR Korea Gymnastics Association’s request to ask for some leniency from the FIG and allow them to appeal their ban under the new Federation members and new President Mr Kim Jong Bin .  North Korea was given 21 days to appeal after the FIG issued a 2 year ban on them from international competition which was imposed on November 5th last year. The ban will stay in place until October 5th 2012.

FIG President Bruno Grandi welcomed the reform in the Association but as they had failed to appeal in time, he has said that he will not interfere with the FIG’s disciplinary decision.

To this request, the President of the FIG clearly responded that he will in no way interfere with the disciplinary proceedings pursued by the Federation, and that moreover, the Gymnastics Association of the Democratic People’s Republic of Korea had failed to observe the rules in force governing appeal procedures.

All has been quiet from the DPR Korean Gymnastics Federation since they were banned from competition for 2 years by the FIG. The Asian Gymnastics Union reports that this has caused huge problems among the Federation:

The operation of the Association’s Head Office is almost in disorder, there is a tendency that many promising gymnasts want to leave, social support cannot be expected as much as before, it gets harder to find young boys and girls willing to do gymnastics, gymnastics clubs are to be closed, there is a lot of worry about the mass gymnastics activities and so on.

An extraordinary congress of the DPR Korea Gymnastics Association was summoned to discuss the “fatal circumstances” that they are now face. New executive members were elected to the Association during the Extraordinary Congress.

It’s been said before but I’ll say it again, it’s a real pity that the current elite WAG gymnasts from DPR Korea who were not at fault have been punished, and too for the MAG gymnasts and can now not compete in London 2012. It wasn’t their fault. Lets hope the newly elected executive members can set things straight, although with the current age scandal going on with the Chinese in the skating world, it seems that this will still continue.

Read more from the Asian Gymnastics Union.

As we have all heard by now, the IOC today stripped the Womens Chinese Team of their bronze medal from the 2000 Sydney Olympics. Many blogs and websites have been writing their thoughts and opinions on the matter. I’m delighted that the IOC have come to this decision. See below for some of the many websites discussing the case.

China have been been stripped of the Olympic bronze medal won by the women’s gymnastic team at the 2000 Games in Sydney for using an underage gymnast.

The International Olympic Committee acted after investigations determined that gymnast Dong Fangxiao was only 14 years old at the 2000 Games.

FIG: FIG salutes IOC decision

BBC Sport: Underage gymnast costs China Sydney Olympics bronze

Amy’s Gymnastics Blog: IOC Strips China of 2000 Olympic Bronze Medal

USA Gymnastics: USA Gymnastics statement regarding the IOC’s decision to award 2000 Olympic bronze medal to USA

Gymnastics Coaching: Punish China, not gymnast Dong Fangxiao and  Olympic Bronze Medal for American Gymnasts

Gymnastics Examiner: China officially stripped of 2000 Olympic team bronze medal; USA to be awarded team bronze and  Blythe discusses whether the IOC should correct older age scandals.