BEIJING - Chinese short-track speedskating star Wang Meng is expected to return to competitions soon as her suspension has been lifted.

"The ban has been lifted. Now Wang is eligible to compete in both domestic and international events," Lan Li, vice-director of China's Winter Sports Administrative Center, told Xinhua on Monday.

"But whether she can return to the national team depends on her form," he added.

Wang, who has four Olympic gold medals under her belt, was expelled from the national team last August for punching team manager Wang Chunlu after breaking the team curfew and coming back to the team base drunk. She was later banned from all kinds of domestic competitions including the National Winter Games in January this year.

The 27-year-old's first competitive race since last year is probably the first stop of the national speedskating championships in Harbin this month.

Special coverage: Wang Meng expelled