(refiles to correct dateline)
BEIJING, Oct 11 - 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
on Wednesday.
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.
(Writing by Ian Ransom; editing by Miles Evans, Asia Sports
Desk in Melbourne +61 392861435; RM:
miles.evans.reuters.com@reuters.net; miles.evans@reuters.com))