Former CBA top draft Wang banned two matches for violating anti-virus regulations

BEIJING -- Beijing Royal Fighters power forward Wang Shaojie was on Monday suspended two matches for breaching epidemic prevention and control regulations of the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) league.

Wang, the CBA top draft pick in 2019, will miss the Royal Fighters' encounters with the Sichuan Blue Whales on Monday and the Tianjin Pioneers on Wednesday in preseason warmup matches.

Wang was found to have left the hotel in the competition site of Zhuji, east China's Zhejiang Province without the permission of the CBA's epidemic prevention and control working group, which was deemed as a breach of the league's anti-virus regulations. He was also fined 10,000 RMB (around 1,550 US dollars).

Wang averaged 11 points, 6.9 rebounds and 1 block in 53 appearances last season, as the Royal Fighters failed to make into the playoffs at the last gasp.

Wang was also a member of the Chinese national team in the FIBA Asia Cup qualifiers and the Olympic qualifying tournament earlier this year.

Featuring 20 teams, the 2021-22 CBA season will open on October 16. A total of 38 rounds are scheduled in the three-stage regular season.