(Sports Focus) CAA reiterates team discipline to build up for 2020 Olympic Games

BEIJING, March 18 (Xinhua) -- With the goal to win more than two gold medals at the 2020 Olympic Games in Tokyo, the Chinese Athletics Association (CAA) has urged the country's national Team members to focus on training and avoid distraction off the field.

Last week, China's star high jumper Zhang Guowei has been suspended by CAA from all competitions with immediate effect after the world silver medalist violated the regulations of the national Team.

According to a statement released by CAA, the 27-year-old attended two commercial events, in late February and early March respectively, without having permission from the Team.

While declining to reveal details of Zhang's suspension length, the CAA urged all athletes to learn a lesson from Zhang and concentrate on their preparation for the upcoming 2019 Doha IAAF World Championships as well as the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.

For the Tokyo Games, the CAA has targeted to achieve "better results" than the best-ever collection of two gold, two silver and two bronze medals from the quadrennial sports gala, which the Chinese track and field athletes won at the Rio Games in 2016.

On his suspension, Zhang pledged to spare no efforts in his own training while waiting for the lifting of his ban.

"After talking with officials from the CAA, I can feel their care, concerns and expectations ... Please don't worry, I will continue to train hard and give it all out for my dream," said Zhang on his social media account.

Zhang registered his personal best of 2.38 meters in 2015 when he won the silver medal at the Beijing World Championships. He has been struggling to find his form following a series of injuries as he could only make the season best of 2.21m, nine centimeters away from the entry standard for the 2019 World Championships in Doha.

Against Zhang's below-par performance, several Chinese athletes have been enjoying their solid forms in the recent season and will cherish the hope of gold medals for China in Tokyo.

Sprinter Su Bingtian dominated the 2019 indoor season, eyeing to break the 9.90-second barrier in the outdoor season, while javelin thrower Lv Huihui, world shot put champion Gong Lijiao, and race walker Qieyang Shijie all stand atop the world ranking system newly launched by the IAAF.

Olympic champion Liu Hong who just came back from a two-year maternity leave, set the world record in her first 50km race walk earlier this month.

Furthermore, the CAA reiterated its stern fight against doping, with the Supreme People's Court saying that illegal manufacturing and sale of performance-enhancing substances could soon face criminal punishment in China.

"We will continue to gear up our anti-doping efforts to ensure all Chinese athletes at the Games are away from such a scandal," said Tian Xiaojun, vice-president of the CAA.