VietNamNet Bridge – In its latest document, sent to the Vietnam Gymnastics Federation, the International Gymnastics Federation (FIG) did not suggest an official verdict for Vietnamese gymnast Do Ngan Thuong, who took a banned substance to lose weight at the 2008 Olympics in Beijing.

Gymnast Do Ngan Thuong

FIG said the verdict for Ngan Thuong completely depends on the verdict from the Vietnam Gymnastic Federation. However, this organization suggested that the Vietnam Gymnastic Federation should apply one of the two forms of punishment under the FIG’s charters: suspending Ngan Thuong from gymnastics tournaments for one or two years.

The Vietnam Gymnastic Federation, therefore, decided to ban this gymnast from contests for one year, starting from August 15, 2008, the day she was unveiled to have been taking dope. Nguyen Kim Lan, Chief of the Gymnastics Division under the General Department of Sports and Physical Training, reported the decision to FIG.

However, Ngan Thuong plans to say goodbye to her elite sports career to study at the Bac Ninh Sports and Physical Training University. She started studies there in September 2008.

“I regret to hear the news because Ngan Thuong is a talented gymnast and she can play sports very well and could for many years from now. This year she is just 19 years old and in the world, many gymnasts still work at the age of 25, 26 and even 30. I tried to persuade her to practice and wait for a return. Thuong now both studies and practice gymnastics. I hope I can convince her to not bid adieu to her career early because she still loves gymnastics,” said Kim Lan.

(Source: TN)