Asian Games – Gymnastics History

1998: Four South Korean Gymnasts Suspended for Furosemide

Furosemide is the most common doping violation in women’s artistic gymnastics. Publicly documented cases include those of Nadzeya Vysotskaya (2006), Đỗ Thị Ngân Thương (2008), Daiane dos Santos (2009), Kristina Goryunova (2009), Luisa Galiulina (2012), Angelina Simakova (2022).

But not all cases make their way onto the widely circulated lists. In 1998, just weeks before the Asian Games, four South Korean gymnasts tested positive for furosemide—a banned diuretic used for weight loss and, in some cases, to mask other prohibited substances, including anabolic steroids. When all was said and done, South Korea’s national team had only three members because the other four members had been suspended.

What follows is their story, as it unfolded in the pages of the Dong-A Ilbo.

1974: The Men’s and Women’s Competitions at the Asian Games

Gymnastics was new to the Asian Games in 1974, and there were a few surprises.

First, China was present. Though China was competing in more dual meets in countries like Romania and the United States, China was not part of the FIG or the IOC at the time due to the organizations’ recognition of Taiwan. The organizers of the Asian Games broke ranks by inviting China and revoking Taiwan’s membership. This was a big deal at the time. (More on that below.)

Second, China had quite the medal haul. On the women’s side, Chinese gymnasts swept the all-around podium, and on the men’s side, China won the men’s team title, beating Japan. The competition was held just weeks before the World Championships in Varna — with the Asian Games happening in early September and the World Championships in late October. As a result, Japan did not send its top gymnasts to the Asian Games, and to make matters worse, one of Japan’s gymnasts tore his Achilles during the first event.

As you’ll see below, Arthur Gander, the president of the FIG, took an essentialist position and attributed China’s success to their bodies, stating, “A Chinese is a very well-formed human being, better formed than a Japanese, for instance.” (Because all Chinese people have the same body?)

Finally — and maybe this is less of a surprise — there was reportedly tension between the North and South Korean delegations.