Chinese gymnasts’ parents ‘indignant’ over age questions

BEIJING (AP) — With the parents growing indignant and the Beijing Games winding down, the International Olympic Committee wants to ‘‘put to rest’’ persistent questions about the age of China’s gold medal women’s gymnastics team.

The IOC said Friday there is still no proof anyone cheated, though it asked the International Gymnastics Federation to investigate ‘‘what have been a number of questions and apparent discrepancies,’’ spokeswoman Giselle Davies said. However, all the information the Chinese gymnastics federation presented supports its insistence that its athletes were old enough to compete.

‘‘We believe the matter will be put to rest and there’s no question ... on the eligibility,’’ Davies said. ‘‘The information we have received seems satisfactory in terms of the correct documentation — including birth certificates.’’

If the federation had found evidence that the gymnasts were underage, it could have affected four of China’s medals. In addition to the team gold and He Kexin’s gold on uneven bars, Yang Yilin won bronze medals in the all-around and bars.

With the games wrapping up Sunday, the IOC wants to quickly end any lingering doubts about underage competitors.

No one would be happier to finally have closure on the controversy than the gymnasts’ parents.

China coach Lu Shanzan said the parents are ‘‘indignant’’ over persistent questions about their daughters’ ages.

‘‘It’s not just me. The parents of our athletes are all very indignant,’’ Lu said. ‘‘They have faced groundless suspicion. Why aren’t they believed? Why are their children suspected? Their parents are very angry.’’

In an interview with The Associated Press, Lu said Asian gymnasts are naturally smaller than their American and European rivals.

‘‘At this competition, the Japanese gymnasts were just as small as the Chinese,’’ he said. ‘‘Chinese competitors have for years all been small. It is not just this time. It is a question of race. European and American athletes are all powerful, very robust. But Chinese athletes cannot be like that. They are by nature that small.’’