Four Chinese table tennis players were dismissed from the national team today for engaging in after-hours ping pong said to endanger the nation’s chances at this year’s Olympic Games.

Li Nan, the women’s world No 9, and her team mates Bai Yang and Fan Ying were sent home to "carry out deep reflection," said Cai Zhenhua, the head coach.

Hou Yingchao, a male player identified as Li’s boyfriend, suffered a similar fate, while two world champions escaped punishment for fear of denting China’s medal hopes in Athens this summer.

Ma Lin, the men’s world No 1 who was also Ms Bai’s boyfriend, and Wang Hao, Mr Ma’s official doubles partner as well as Ms Fan’s unofficial doubles partner, were separated from their lovers to allow them greater concentration.

"This is an Olympic year, and we are facing an arduous task," said Coach Cai. The removed players "engaged in romantic affairs, affecting training.

"We let the more important person (in the couples) stay because they have the heavier burdens and responsibilities."

With the Olympics coming to Beijing in four years’ time, sport has been given added priority by officials. A good showing in Athens is regarded as a must to set China up with a chance to top the medals table at home in 2008.

Table tennis is one of the events that China needs to dominate to offset other disciplines where it has traditionally been weaker. Furthermore, table tennis has symbolic character since it is equated with Chinese sporting prowess around the world.

Before Henry Kissinger established the first diplomatic contact in 1971 between the US and "Red China" as it was then called, China invited an American table tennis team in a gesture of goodwill that was enthusiastically embraced by Washington.

Like most Chinese athletes, table-tennis players are selected at early ages for elite state-run sporting schools and train rigorously under a regime of extreme team discipline and total control over their private lives.

"Dating is not against the law or regulations. But as professional players, they only have a few years to train and compete. They cannot spend it too much on dating," said Li Yuhuan, an official."We hope all the young players treasure their time and career."

The table-tennis association also fined and punished other players, including Qiu Yike, who was given a six-month suspension for drinking.