In 1995, Zhang, who was actually born in Fujian Province, registered in Yunnan. Zhang's victory in 2004 made him the first Olympic champion from that province, located in Southwest China.

But Zhang decided to switch to Shanxi recently, claiming his contract with Yunnan had expired early this year, even though Yunnan insisted the rules allow it to retain the preferential rights to Zhang and extend the contract.

"Yunnan did not give me the basic salary in the last two years. They just want their interests from my sporting career," Zhang said, addressing his reasons for the switch.

Zhang's form began to slump after 2004 and the weightlifter said Yunnan refused to extend its contract with him because the province regarded him as no longer "a valuable person".

"Even after the 2000 Sydney Olympics, officials from the province's sports bureau showed hatred towards me, which made me so sad. I know because I only finished fourth in Sydney and they thought I had no value anymore," Zhang said. "To make it worse, in 2002 during my training for the national team, they did not give me any financial or medical support."

But officials from Yunnan told a press conference that it was Zhang who refused to sign the contract.

"I know Zhang Guozheng has switched to Shanxi, but it does not mean we have given up the preferential right," said He Guangyu, who is in charge of athletics for the Yunnan Sports Bureau. "Last year we asked him to register but he said 'no' due to the salary problem. Now he signed with another province and it's unacceptable."

【体坛英语资讯：Bitter battles about the rights to athletes】相关文章：

★ 娱乐资讯：Katie Holmes a most influential celeb

★ 体坛英语资讯：Lin wins China derby to book final berth

★ 娱乐英语资讯：Diane Krugers baby denial

★ 体坛英语资讯：Russia march on to quarters, Israel beat Croatia

★ 娱乐英语资讯：Paltrow: Jolie, Pitt attract paparazzi

★ 体坛英语资讯：France visit Italy for revenge, England in peril

★ 娱乐英语资讯：Britney Spears tops Hollywood meltdowns of 2007

★ 娱乐英语资讯：Celebs at the 59th Primetime Emmy Awards

★ 娱乐英语资讯：Jessica Simpson hawks her line of handbags and shoes

★ 娱乐英语资讯：Jamie Lynn Spears says shes pregnant