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Olympic champion Sun Yang has ban lifted, splits with long-time coach

(Xinhua)    18:49, April 24, 2014
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HANGZHOU, Zhejiang Province, April 24 -- Multi-Olympic swimming champion Sun Yang had a competition and endorsement ban lifted on Thursday.

The same day, he and his long-time coach Zhu Zhigen parted ways.

Sun had been banned from training, competition and commercial events by Zhejiang College of Sports, where he takes training as a student, after he was detained by police for driving without a license in November last year.

The college already allowed the super star back to training in March before they decided it was time for him to join social activities.

"Sun has been following the regulations and well behaved in the past month. So the college decided to lift the ban and allow him back to commercial events," said a news release from the college.

Sun should have mixed feelings for the day when his long-time mentor Zhu resigned.

The Olympic champion was unable to be reached for comment.

"Zhu asked to receive medical treatment and he resigned as Sun's coach," said the news release, which didn't give details about Zhu's health problems.

Under Zhu's 10-year guidance, Sun grew from a swimmer with raw talent to China's first ever male Olympic champion in London Games in 2012.

He won the world titles in the 400, 800 and 1,500 meters freestyle in 2013, becoming the first ever Chinese to be named world best male swimmer by world swimming body FINA.

Zhang Yadong, coach of former Olympic champion Luo Xuejuan in women's breaststroke, will take over Sun's training.

The 23-year-old Zhejiang native has experienced some rough patches.

Earlier in 2013, Sun strained his relationship with Zhu while struggling to balance his romance and career.

Then a minor car crash in November revealed that he has been driving without a license.

(Editor:HuangJin、Yao Chun)

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