Ning Zetao dismisses rumors of Rio exclusion

Chinese world champion swimmer Ning Zetao（First,R）appears in national uniform at a ceremony held in Beijing on Monday to introduce the Chinese Olympic delegation.[Photo by Zou Hong/China Daily]

Chinese world champion swimmer Ning Zetao has secured a spot to compete in the 2016 Rio Olympics, despite rumors he had been disqualified from the event over commercial disputes with the sport's national governing body.

Ning shot to fame after winning the men's 100 m freestyle at the 2015 FINA World Championships in Kazan, Russia.

Yet according to a report in Chinese media, he was involved in a dispute with the National Swimming Administrative Center after signing a dairy brand as his personal sponsor, which is the rival brand of the national team's dairy sponsor.

The center even considered excluding Ning from its Olympic roster due to him violating a team rule stipulating that any individual athlete's commercial endorsements should be approved by the center first, according to the report.

However, Ning appeared in national uniform at a ceremony held in Beijing on Monday to introduce the Chinese Olympic delegation, dismissing the rumors and declaring his qualification for Rio.

"I feel honored and proud to be part of China's Olympic delegation to Rio," Ning said before the ceremony.

The National Swimming Administrative Center has not officially commented on the issue.

Boasting a strong combo in Ning and men's 400 m and 1,500 m freestyle defending champion Sun Yang, the Chinese national swimming team expects another golden campaign in Rio after winning five gold medals four years ago at the London Olympics.