Wang Meng, Turin Olympic champion and Changchun Asiad double gold winner is not with her national teammates, who are arming for the upcoming World Short Track Speed Skating Championships and World Team Championships.

China's Wang Meng smiles at the press conference after she won the women's 500m short track speed skating at the 6th Winter Asian Games January 30, 2007. [Xinhua]

Wang Meng reacts after finishing third in the women's 1500m short track speed skating at the 6th Winter Asian Games January 29, 2007. [Sportsphoto.com]

"Wang will be back to the national team this May when the new national team roster is formed," said national short track speed skating team leader Yang Zhanwu.

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The ban on her from the national team came last Saturday as punishment by the Winter Sports Administrative Center in response to the 21-year-old's language attack on new team coach Li Yan during the Changchun Asian Games in January.

Li took the helm of the team last year after coaching America's Turin Olympic gold winner Apolo Anton Ohno.

"I want to go back to the provincial team after the Games because the national team doesn't suit me. I didn't feel much cooperation among teammates here," the 21-year-old said in a harsh voice to journalists after her 1500m defeat to South Korea in Changchun, which was broadcast alive on the CCTV sports channel.

In the six-member 1500m final between China and South Korea, with three from each , Wang was alone to compete among the South Korean trio in the last laps as 17-year-old Zhou Yang stumbled and Cheng Xiaolei lagged too far away to help. Wang hit the finish line fourth but was awarded the bronze after one of the South Korean was disqualified for committing a foul.

Tong Lixin, director of the winter sports center confirmed that Wang had been back to her provincial team. "The punishment is quite fair," Tong said.

Yang echoed the director. "Wang is an ace skater. Her absence will certainly have impact on China's gold crop in the coming Championships." But the team leader remained upbeat about his other skaters, "They will do their level best," he said.

China sent Changchun Asiad squad Fu Tianyu, Zhu Mile, Cheng Xiaolei and Zhou Yang and rookie Meng Xiaoxue for the women's team to the Championships unveiling March 9.