Beijing, March 19 (IANS): The Chinese swimming national team Wednesday lifted the ban on Olympic champion Sun Yang.

Sun, the first Chinese man to win an Olympic swimming gold with his victories in the 400 and 1,500-metre freestyle at the London Games, was suspended from training and competing indefinitely last November after he was given seven days of detention as punishment for driving without a licence, reports Xinhua.

Sun was suspended from all competitions and training by the Chinese swimming team last November after he was caught driving without a licence in a car accident in Hangzhou, the capital of Zhejiang Province. He was banned by the Zhejiang College of Sports as well as the national team.

The college lifted Sun's ban earlier Wednesday and asked the national team to let the swimmer back to training.

"The national team welcomes Sun," said Shang Xiutang, deputy head of the Chinese Swimming Administrative Center (CSAC).

"We always hope he can realise his mistake and come back. We hope he can do better in the future."