The Macao table tennis team has won part of the appeal as the jury meeting of the Asian Games table tennis competitions decided Saturday to allow them to replace the banned player in both men's doubles and mixed doubles events.

 

The jury decided to reject Macao's request of replacing in the men's singles event Leong Kin Wa, who had been disqualified Thursday from the tournament for using illegal glue, but accepted Cheong Chi Yung in the men's doubles and Iam Tong Hou in the mixed doubles to replace Leong for the competitions, said a statement released by the Competition Management Committee.

 

The suspension decision towards Leong was made Thursday after the amateur player, who had been registered to play all men's events - the men's team, singles, doubles and the mixed doubles -- was tested to have used illegal glue in both Macao's first round team defeats to Group C rivals Vietnam and Hong Kong of China on Wednesday.

 

According to regulations by the world table tennis governing body ITTF, Leong was striped of his results in former matches and handed the suspension.

 

The Macao team has accepted the sanction, but then appealed to the discipline committee of table tennis to allow them to send replacements.

 

Macao, which finished 82nd in the world championships, has been ousted from the men's and team events.

 

(Xinhua News Agency December 3, 2006)