Chinese officials back Yu in Zhou row

Beijing - Senior Chinese sports officials have leapt to the defense of deputy sports director Yu Zaiqing over his perceived criticism of Olympic short-track speed skating champion Zhou Yang.

The authorities claim Yu's comments were misunderstood.

"We were talking about moral education at that time and Yu didn't refer to Zhou Yang at all, not to mention criticize her," said Gao Jian, former director of China's Gymnastics Administrative Center and a CPPCC member on Monday.