[Josip]

Zitat von DerRoteSchlumpf

What do you think about this measure?

Game's up for table tennis players caught dating
SHANGHAI - China's table tennis association, the custodian of a sport considered a patriotic institution, has removed four national-team players for having romantic affairs.

'This is an Olympic year and we are facing an arduous task,' head coach Cai Zhenhua was quoted by the media as saying at a team meeting on Saturday.

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The removed players 'engaged in romantic affairs, affecting training', he said.

Women's world No 9 Li Nan and team-mates Bai Yang and Fan Ying have been ordered to return home to 'carry out deep reflection'.

Men's player Hou Ying- chao, identified as Li's boyfriend, was also sent home, according to the Xinmin Evening News and other state media.

The association's actions underscore the extreme seriousness of table tennis in China, where the sport is referred to as 'national ball'.

Chinese dominance in international competition has long been a source of patriotic pride, and its leading players are among the country's most recognised sports figures.

Association official Li Yuhuan said the four players had been sent back temporarily to their local teams and could return once they 'deal well with their personal affairs'.

'Dating is not against the law or regulations,' Mr Li told told AP. 'But as professional players, they have only a few years to train and compete. They cannot spend it too much on dating.

'We hope all the young players treasure their time and career.'

Media reports said world No 1 Ma Lin was Bai's boyfriend but avoided punishment because he is expected to be a key player at the Athens Olympics. Ma's doubles partner, Wang Hao, was not punished either, despite being identified as being involved with Fan.

Mr Li acknowledged that higher-ranked players were treated leniently because 'they have the heavier burdens and responsibilities'.

Like most Chinese athletes, table tennis players are selected at early ages for elite state-run sporting schools and train under a regime of extreme team discipline and total control over their private lives. -- AP

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Now, the young player Qiu Yike (who has beaten Timo Boll at the World Championships 2003) was banned from the international scene for 6 months, because he was drunk.

did anybody of this suspended players returne to the top or was their career over and out?