China Table Tennis and Badminton Administration Centre, governing body of the two sports, well known for its tight control and severe punishment for players' behaviours on and off the court, took an unexpectedly lenient disciplinary action on former Olympic and World champion Kong Linghui on Wednesday night.

Kong, who was held by police for crashing his Porsche into a taxi while driving drunk last Friday and believed to face heavy sanctions from the team, was only asked to make a public apology and have self-criticism among the team.

The rules also did not mention whether Kong will play for the Zhejiang Ningbo team in the domestic super league over the weekend.

"I was not aware of the serious results after drunk driving before the accident. I am so sorry for the mistake," said Kong in his apology letter.

"As a table tennis player, I have been supported by lots of people and I should have set a good example for the society.

"I will do harder work from now on and redeem the negative effect. Please forgive me and have trust on me."

The heaviest action from the centre, however, is targeted at all members of the team rather than Kong himself as it ruled no body is allowed to drink and drive any more during the national team's assembled training from Wednesday till Beijing hosts the 29th Olympic Games in 2008.

Kong had been fined 1800 yuan (US$225) and had his licence revoked for six months by the transportation department.

Reports said Kong's car had no licence plate when it was involved in the accident. Two women were also seen in his car.

Kong's former team-mate and doubles partner Liu Guoliang, who is now the head coach of the national men's team, later dismissed the reports.

Before this incident, other members of the team have been given harsher punishments due to "unproper" behaviors.

In May, Olympic doubles champion Chen Qi had to make an open apology, attend military boot camp, pay an undisclosed amount of fine and do farm work for flinging the ball to the ground and kicking a chair into the air after he lost the Asian Cup final to team-mate Wang Hao in Japan on March 5.

In March last year, China banned young hopeful Qiu Yike from all competition for a year for staying out late drinking with friends.

Two years ago, four players were kicked out of the national team by then head coach Cai Zhenhua for "romantic relations" with team-mates.

(China Daily July 28, 2006)