Young Chinese snooker players Zhou Mengmeng and Tian Pengfei have been suspended from all domestic matches for one year, according to a statement issued by China's snooker administration on Friday.

Zhou Mengmeng

The two women will also be barred from representing China until December 31, 2007, when the penalty will expire.

The watchdog also said it requires Tian Pengfei to formally apologise to Zhou Mengmeng, while Zhou will have to file a statement of self-examination.

The penalty has been imposed in response to the month-long dispute that broke out between the two players after they clashed at the Asian Games in Doha in December.

Zhou Mengmeng withdrew from the third-place eight ball play-off and the nine-ball competition at the Asian Games.

She claimed Tian beat her up before the semi-finals in the eight ball competition, rendering her unable to concentrate on her game.

Zhou's family earlier filed a lawsuit against Tian Pengfei, demanding a public apology and one yuan in compensation.

(CRI January 27, 2007)