San Francisco, CA (AP) - The USOC today denied claims that a young gymnast in Northern California is under-aged, and deferred all inquiries to her father, Ben Bernstein. Leila Bernstein, pictured above, did not compete in the 2008 Olympic Games due to a broken leg, suffered while practicing the pole vault the week before the games. Bernstein's biography lists her as being 21, well above the age necessary to compete in the games. She has been accused of actually being less than 16 years of age, and most likely less than 5 years of age.
Leila Bernstein first rose to fame last year, when she scored a series of perfect 16's in the gymnastics World Cup (sponsored by Guava and Java), and also set a World Record in the pole vault, and the 100m high hurdles. Bernstein did not qualify in the Iron Man competition, finishing 10th, but did put on a respectable showing given she decided to try it at the last minute. Immediately after that decision, rumors started surfacing that she at the time was actually just 1 year old. Bernstein's agent and trainer, Ben Bernstein, a former Olympic hackey sack medalist, stated at the time that Leila was definitely of age, and that she just looked young because she recently got a haircut. The investigation that followed drew no conclusions.
Yesterday, as rumors resurfaced, Ben Bernstein produced documentation seemingly verifying Leila's age. A driver's license and other forms of identification were shown to governing body members. The investigating body indicated that in general the identification looked legitimate, but did question why a Spencer Gifts receipt fell out of a bag Bernstein was carrying and was found laying on the floor. Leila's Mother Carolyn at that point entered the room, grabbed Leila and Ben by the arms and lead them out of the investigation, and was overheard saying "Dude, that is the worst fake ID I have ever seen. She couldn't even buy Sloe Gin with that thing."
None of the Bernsteins were available for comment but it is rumored that Ben Bernstein is grounded until further notice.
