A Chinese sports official has ruled out a return to the national team for estranged Olympic diving champion Tian Liang, Chinese newspapers reported on Friday.

China's "diving prince" was kicked off the national squad in 2005 for taking part in too many commercial activities, despite having won a gold and a bronze at the Athens Games and the 10 metres platform title at the Sydney Olympics.

Domestic media speculated that Tian might be next in line for reconciliation after former NBA player Wang Zhizhi -- officially ostracised for four years after deserting the national basketball team in 2002 -- was welcomed back to China earlier in the month.

Unlike Wang, however, Tian had not recognised his mistakes, the director of the National Swimming Centre Li Hua told the Beijing Times.

Tian's mistakes included "putting personal interests above national duties", national diving team manager Zhou Jihong was quoted as saying by the China Daily last month.

Long a focus of media attention, the popular diver's rash of endorsements and television commercials following the Athens Olympics were viewed dimly by China's sports authorities.

China holds its national athletes to strict standards of conduct that have become especially severe in the run-up to the 2008 Beijing Olympics.

Last month table tennis prospect Qiu Yike was banned from playing with the national side for one year after he returned late from a night of drinking.