Court upholds verdict against Olympic champion

Foshan Intermediate People's Court in Guangdong province upheld a district court verdict and rejected an appeal on Wednesday filed by an Olympic champion against Jianlibao Co Ltd.

Zhuang Xiaoyan, a judo gold medalist at the 1992 Barcelona Games, was one of 18 Chinese Olympic champions awarded with a commemorative golden can by Jianlibao, a soft drinks maker.

But in 2011 Zhuang discovered that the can was not made of solid gold after a crack appeared on the surface.

Zhuang then filed a lawsuit against Jianlibao in August 2012 after she failed to reach an agreement with Jianlibao regarding compensation.

Zhuang said Jianlibao had misled her by presenting her with what it described as a golden can. The object's estimated value is less than 50 yuan ($8).

Jianlibao once claimed the can was made of pure gold and valued at more than 40,000 yuan, Zhuang said.

Zhuang asked Jianlibao to either exchange the can for one that was solid gold or pay her compensation.

But Sanshui district people’s court ruled in favor of the defendant on October 29 last year.

Chen Rufeng, the presiding judge from Foshan Intermediate People's Court, upheld that ruling.