China's table tennis coach Kong Linghui suspended from position upon gambling debt scandal

Kong Linghui [File photo: huanqiu.com]

Former Olympic champion Kong Linghui has been suspended as head coach of the Chinese women's table tennis team following a lawsuit over a gambling debt filed by a Singaporean hotel, the Chinese Table Tennis Association announced on Tuesday.

Li Sun, former coach of 10-time world champion and four Olympic gold medals winner Zhang Yining, has replaced suspended Kong Linghui to take charge of Chinese women's national team at the ongoing World Table Tennis Championships. 

Kong was ordered to return home from the tournament to aid an investigation into the matter. 

A Singaporean hotel where Kong and his family and friends had stayed in 2015 filed a lawsuit against Kong in a Hong Kong court. Media reports said Kong borrowed S$1 million (721,200 US dollars) from the hotel, but failed to pay back the debt in full.

Kong posted a statement late Monday on the Weibo microblogging service acknowledging he had visited the casino with relatives and friends. He said he arranged for members of his party to receive gambling chips under his name, but added that he didn't gamble himself and was "deeply upset" by the allegations.

"After the media brought to light this case today I immediately called some friends and relatives who were there at that time asking them what's happening and I learned someone has debt related to the dispute with the casino," Kong wrote in the statement. "I immediately asked the person who owed money to make a clarification."

The Chinese General Administration of Sport apologized for the "negative influence" caused by the incident and promised an investigation into the matter. 

"The General Administration of Sport takes a zero-tolerance attitude towards any behaviors which violate sporting ethics, disciplines or laws," said a spokesperson for the administration.

The spokesperson added that the administration will conduct a further investigation based on an initial probe by the Chinese Table Tennis Association and mete out punishment in accordance with relevant regulations and laws.

(AP contributed to the story)