[5] In 1999, though by FIG rules she was too young as a thirteen year old, she began illegally competing as a senior gymnast internationally.

[2] Dong was again named to the senior Chinese team for the 2000 Olympics, still too young to compete now at the age of fourteen.

[3][5] As reference, at the time of her retirement from gymnastics in 2001, Dong was still age ineligible to compete internationally as a senior, because her 16th birthday didn't fall until the 2002 calendar year.

[5] The 1986 birthdate would have made her 13 in 1999 and 14 at the Olympics – two years below the minimum age required by the International Federation of Gymnastics.

Netease sports columnist Li Jiayang wrote "Competing for her local team in the Chinese National Games, she damaged her knee permanently, in order to win an Olympic medal for the national team, her age was hidden (I don't dare to use the word 'falsify' which may cause trouble) and she has been humiliated.