Well, well, well. Chalk it up to peer pressure, worldwide shame or just plain pervasive ridicule, but the IOC has come around to reality on the Chinese gymnast controversy. From the Times of London:

The International Olympic Committee has ordered an investigation into mounting allegations that Chinese authorities covered up the true age of their gold-medal winning gymnastics star because she was too young to compete.

An IOC official told The Times that because of “discrepancies” that have come to light about the age of He Kexin, the host nation’s darling who won gold in both team and individual events, an official inquiry has been launched that could result in the gymnast being stripped of her medals.

Oh, if only someone had brought the “discrepancies” to the IOC’s attention earlier, before the Games ... someone like, perhaps, the New York Times!

Oh, wait ... they did.

Sarcasm notwithstanding, I’m an idealist at heart, so I’m hoping the IOC will yet do the right thing—if not for themselves and their own moral consciences, for history and the sake of the Olympic Games.

We shall see.