Gymnastics chiefs will be asked to check that none of the winning Chinese women's team were under-age.

The International Olympic Committee (IOC) wants the gymnastics governing body to investigate the matter.

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Chinese passport records had appeared to show their gymnasts were aged 16 or above, which met Games regulations.

Questions about the ages of athletes on China's team have been raised through online and newspaper reports, which claimed some may be as young as 14.

No-one from the International Gymnastics Federation was available to comment.

Chinese coach Lu Shanzhen said new documents were handed to the organisation on Thursday in an effort to dispel any doubts about the age of gold medallist He Kexin.

The items, including an old passport, a residency card, and her current identity card were issued by various departments of the Chinese government.

A gymnast must be aged 16 in an Olympic year to compete at the Games.

The IOC had previously said it had verified the passports of all competitors in Beijing.

And spokeswoman Giselle Davies said: "The information we have received seems satisfactory in terms of the correct documentation - including birth certificates."

Chinese women won six medals, including the team gold and a gold on uneven bars for He.

(BBC)

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