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American Morning

Commission in Dominican Republic Investigating Age

Aired August 30, 2001 - 10:38   ET

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.

THIS IS A RUSH TRANSCRIPT. THIS COPY MAY NOT BE IN ITS FINAL FORM AND MAY BE UPDATED.
LEON HARRIS, CNN ANCHOR: The Little League World Series controversy about the pitcher that may have been too old, some news breaking on that.

Let's go right now to our -- in New York standing by is our Jason Carroll.

Jason, what's the word?

JASON CARROLL, CNN CORRESPONDENT: Leon, I just got a fax in here. Right now I've got it in my hand, it just came through just a few seconds ago. This comes from the Little League Baseball Incorporated. Let me read part of it to you.

It says, "Little League Baseball will accept the decision of the government of the Dominican Republic regarding the correct date of birth for Danny Almonte."

Now, what this fax is referring to is there is an arm of government there in the Dominican Republic called The Central Electoral Committee. Now, the way we understand it, that arm of government is in charge of record, including birth records.

Now there is a special commission working for that arm of government that is investigating the Almonte case, and whatever the results of that investigation happens to be, Little League has decided that they will accept whatever decision that may end up being.

Now there are several courses of action that they could take, if it's determined that Danny Almonte is not 12 years old, which as you said, is the legal age limit in order to play baseball. There have been some reports that he is 14 years old and not 12.

There are, as I said, several courses of action that the league could take, including revoking the charter of the team that he play for, the Rolando Paulino All-Stars.

Now, the commission in the Dominican Republic says it wants to get at the truth. Danny is, the way we understand it, a hero there in the Dominican Republic. But even so, everyone wants to get at the truth who is connected to this particular story. We should hear something from this commission in the Dominican Republic on their investigation sometime later the afternoon. Leon? HARRIS: Very interesting, Jason. Has the league tipped its hand at all in any way as to which course it plans to takes? Say, for instance, if it is determined that Danny Almonte actually was 14 years old, did they say whether or not that they would take away the team's ranking, or their prizes or their trophies they took away, their place in the tournament? Anything like that?

CARROLL: Not so far, Leon. But as you say, there are several course of action that they could take. They could -- as you know, the team placed third in the Little League World Series. It's a possibility that that could be in question.

Again, I think what's going to happen is once they get the decision from the Dominican Republic, then they will probably take some time to decide what course of action they will end up taking.

HARRIS: Very interesting. This afternoon, we will check and see how it turns out. Jason Carroll, thanks so much for bringing this. We appreciate that.

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