Chinese Football Super League side Changsha Jinde finally decided to put the defiant Chen Tao in limbo, which is likely to lead to an early retirement for the young player. In a statement released on Monday, the club said the punishment of banning Chen Tao from training, games and suspending the payment for the player will continue and all efforts to help him with international transfer will be halted.

But the Hunan-based team promised a green light for Chen to play for the national team.

Negotiation between the club and Chen over the latter staying with the team hit a deadlock after the end of last season as the hardline player refused to play for the team any longer and rejected to return to the club.

The out-of-patient club imposed the harsh ban on February 15 but later signaled that opportunity was still alive as soon as the player apologize for his refusal to cooperate, but received no response.

Chen Tao, a core attacker on both the Changsha side and the national Olympic team, is deemed as one of the country's most hopeful players.

(CRI March 19, 2008)