A photo on Sina Weibo allegedly shows that Zhang Xingliang packed his girlfriend into a suitcase and brought her back to his dormitory. Photo: Yangcheng Evening News

After the Chinese Basketball Association (CBA) player Zhang Xingliang sparked widespread attention for allegedly sneaking his girlfriend into his dormitory in a suitcase, the basketball club Guangzhou Loong Lions, to which he belongs, announced on Wednesday that Zhang would be suspended from participating in matches effective immediately.

The club said on Sina Weibo that Zhang garnered significant public attention for his inappropriate handling of personal matters. Following discussions among the club's management and coaching staff, due to his violation of the club's first-team management regulations, with immediate effect, Zhang will be suspended from participating in the club's first team games.

After the communication with the club management and coaching team, Zhang sincerely realized that as a young player, he must hold himself to higher standards, and he regrets the negative impact caused by the incident, At the same time, he plans to take concrete steps to improve himself, the club said.

Previously, a netizen claimed on Sina Weibo that Zhang smuggled his girlfriend into the dormitory by packing her in a suitcase so she could study there for an all-night cram session. The post has since been deleted, reported The Paper.

Zhang, aged 20, appeared in 26 games for Guangzhou this CBA season, averaging 6.4 points per game, according to The Paper.