'I will not give up on Beijing,' says disgraced distance runner
China's top distance runner Sun Yingjie has been suspended for two years for failing a dope test at the National Games. Her coach Wang Dexian has been banned for life for a second violation of the anti-doping code, the Chinese Athletics Association confirmed yesterday.
In addition, Sun and Wang were fined 10,000 yuan each, the association said.
Sun, who won a bronze in the 5,000m at the world championships in 2003 and is one of China's best hopes for a distance medal at the Beijing games, will be banned until October 2007. Wang was slapped with a life ban as he had a previous involvement in a doping case dating back to 1995, when one of his athletes, Zuo Qingmei, tested positive after the national marathon.
Over the next two years Sun will be obliged to take four out-of-competition tests, and she will face a life ban if she misses or fails any test, the association said. Her ban comes after she tested positive for androsterone after taking silver in the women's 10,000 metres at the National Games - a day after she won the Beijing Marathon and passed a doping test.
The 26-year-old has vowed to keep training during the period she is not allowed to compete and hopes to win a medal at the Beijing games.