Saturday, September 30, 2006

Ethnic games tainted by cross-dressing cheats

Touted as a celebration of sport, culture and national unity, the Ethnic Minority Games held in southwestern China descended into a farce of cross-dressing cheating and mob violence, state media reported.

Athletes representing China's 55 ethnic minorities assembled in southwestern Yunnan province last week to compete in blow-pipe darts, horse-riding events and other traditional sports.

But blind pursuit of victory lead to some unorthodox tactics.

Results of the women's dragon-boat racing event were reviewed after athletes complained of "big women with Adam's apples". Referees subsequently found that several of the competitors were actually men wearing wigs.

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