Chinese runner claims banned coach beat her – report

BEIJING – Banned Chinese marathon runner Sun Yingjie has claimed she left her coach, Wang Dexian, because he beat her severely with a belt, local media reported yesterday.

Wang, former head coach of China’s athletics team, was banned from coaching for life by Chinese sports authorities in January, after Sun, 10 000-metre bronze medallist at the 2003 world championships, tested positive for the steroid androsterone after a domestic race meeting last October under his training. Sun, one of China’s brightest track hopefuls for the 2008 Olympics, was also banned for two years, but has continued training in the hope of competing at the Beijing Olympics.Sun said she split from her coach after he lashed her with a buckled belt, the Beijing News reported.”He hit me and called me an ungrateful thing.In over 10 years of beatings, this was the most vicious one,” she told state television.”My back was bruised all over.I could not dare to change my clothes, I simply could not take them off.At the time, I felt that the Olympics and my dreams were no longer important.I felt life was too tiring.”Sun did not say when or why Wang had beaten her, the report said.STAYING SILENT Last December, local media reported that Wang had withheld over 200 000 yuan in competition earnings owed to Sun, but she later denied the reports.Sun also remained silent when her mother was quoted in media reports as saying that Wang had beaten her daughter.Wang would not comment on their relationship, the Beijing News said.”I no longer have anything to do with her.I’m banned from competition,” he told the paper.Wang has also been sued by three of his former runners, who accuse him of defrauding them out of competition earnings and training grants, local media have reported.Wang refused to comment on the court case, the paper said.”Talk to my lawyer,” he told the paper.Nampa-ReutersSun, one of China’s brightest track hopefuls for the 2008 Olympics, was also banned for two years, but has continued training in the hope of competing at the Beijing Olympics.Sun said she split from her coach after he lashed her with a buckled belt, the Beijing News reported.”He hit me and called me an ungrateful thing.In over 10 years of beatings, this was the most vicious one,” she told state television.”My back was bruised all over.I could not dare to change my clothes, I simply could not take them off.At the time, I felt that the Olympics and my dreams were no longer important.I felt life was too tiring.”Sun did not say when or why Wang had beaten her, the report said.STAYING SILENT Last December, local media reported that Wang had withheld over 200 000 yuan in competition earnings owed to Sun, but she later denied the reports.Sun also remained silent when her mother was quoted in media reports as saying that Wang had beaten her daughter.Wang would not comment on their relationship, the Beijing News said.”I no longer have anything to do with her.I’m banned from competition,” he told the paper.Wang has also been sued by three of his former runners, who accuse him of defrauding them out of competition earnings and training grants, local media have reported.Wang refused to comment on the court case, the paper said.”Talk to my lawyer,” he told the paper.Nampa-Reuters