Olympic Champions Withdraw from World Table Tennis Circuit Over Controversial Rules

Fan Zhendong and Chen Meng exit WTT in protest against stricter non-participation fines set to take effect in 2025.

Chinese table tennis stars and Olympic champions Fan Zhendong and Chen Meng have announced their withdrawal from the World Table Tennis (WTT) circuit.
The players cited dissatisfaction with WTT's new rules that increase fines for non-participation, a policy criticized as overly punitive and restrictive.
WTT defends the rules as necessary to ensure top players participate in major events and maintain the integrity of the competition structure.
Critics, including French player Simon Gauzy, argue that the rules harm players' autonomy and could lead to the loss of key figures in the sport.
The controversy highlights broader dissatisfaction with WTT's policies, including high participation costs and limited financial support for players.