Sports departments probe national youth table tennis team following nutrition controversy

According to regulations of the national youth table tennis team (aged 13 to 17), the cost for breakfast is VND100,000 (US$4.09), lunch is VND120,000 and dinner VND100,000 for an athlete each day.

The meals are provided at the team's cafeteria right next to My Dinh National Stadium in Nam Tu Liem District, Hanoi.

However, according to the feedback of many athletes earlier this week, the meals were not adequate for them.

With those expenses each day, there should be enough food to feed the athletes. However, they had to spend their own money to buy food outside or tell their family to send food so that they have enough nutrition and energy for training.

For breakfast, they only get a pack of sticky rice and a bottle of soft drink, while other meals in the day only have a few dishes like fried tofu, braised fish and boiled vegetables.

The athletes also said they have to transfer a part of their allowance to coach Bui Xuan Ha. The coach said the money was used for transport to competitions, buffets, movies and picnic trips but the athletes said that such activities did not exist.

On Tuesday, the Department of Sports and Physical Training asked the Department of Sports Performance II, Table Tennis Department, National Sports Training Center and National Sports Complex to inspect and verify the information.

Phan Anh Tuan, head of the Table Tennis Department and general secretary of the Vietnam Table Tennis Federation, said he was working with coaches and athletes to find out if there were any violations.

"In the meeting with the Department of Physical Education and Sports, the coaching staff as well as the athletes said the information in the media was inaccurate," he added.

It is expected that the Department of Physical Education and Sports will have a conclusion this week to report to the Ministry of Culture, Sports and Tourism.

Meals for athletes come from the state budget allocated to the sports industry every year.

The Ministry of Finance stipulates a nutritional expense of VND320,000 a person per day for national team and youth national team athletes. Athletes who are preparing for SEA Games, Asian Games and Olympics will get VND480,000 a day. Athletes who are capable of winning gold medals at the Asian Games, Youth Olympics, and Olympics get VND640,000 a day.