Speed skating-China's Wang banned for criticising coach

BEIJING, Mar 5 (Reuters) China's Olympic champion short track speed skater Wang Meng has been banned from the world championships and world team championships for criticising her coach at the Asian Winter Games in January.

Wang has been punished for slamming new coach Li Yan's tactics and threatening to return to her provincial team after losing the 1,500m race at Changchun, China Daily reported today.

''Wang Meng's improper comments about the team's head coach ...

had a negative effect on the whole team,'' said a statement from the Winter Sports Administrative Centre.

''The centre has asked her to reflect deeply on her mistakes and make a written apology.'' Wang, one of only four Chinese winter athletes to have won Olympic gold, is something of a maverick and China's sports officials are notoriously unforgiving of public criticism.

''It was irresponsible to make such remarks,'' Wang, 21, said in her apology. ''My mistakes tarnished the image of the team. I'm so sorry. I accept the punishment.'' Li, who once coached the US team and came back to China in September last year, said she would try out younger skaters at this month's world championships in Italy and the team championships in Hungary.

''She is still young and has a great future,'' Li said of Wang.

Reuters AKJ DB0941