SHANGHAI (Reuters) - World champion Ning Zetao has been ditched from China's national swimming squad for violating several team rules including signing sponsorship contracts without the team's consent, the official Xinhua news agency reported late on Wednesday. Ning had been sent back to his Chinese Navy team for training, Xinhua said, citing the Chinese swimming authority. "Ning Zetao violated the rules of the national swimming team which has resulted in adverse effect on the team," said a statement from the Swimming Management Centre of the General Administration of Sport of China. "Everyone is equal and should abide by rules in sports," said the statement, adding that the decision was made last October by the Chinese national swimming team. In 2015, the 23-year-old from China's heartland province of Henan became the first Asian swimmer to win the 100 meters freestyle at the world championships.

Source: The Star February 23, 2017 00:49 UTC