LAUSANNE, Switzerland (AP) — North Korea’s gymnasts are still barred from the 2012 Olympics as punishment for age falsification, despite the country’s reform efforts.
North Korea asked the International Gymnastics Federation for leniency last month after firing the outgoing president of its Gymnastics Association, its international director and her secretary, and banning them from gymnastics. North Korea also approved a registration process for its gymnasts.
But FIG president Bruno Grandi said North Korea had failed to appeal in time, and he wouldn’t interfere with the governing body’s disciplinary procedures.
North Korea was banned from international competition until Oct. 5, 2012, after a gymnast was found to have competed under three different birthdates.
