Taiwan cuts funding for Olympic speed skater who sparked fierce outrage by wearing a China uniform before the Olympics

• Taiwan authorities cut funding for Olympian Huang Yu-ting as she "hurt the honour of the country."
• The speed skater drew ire at home when she was seen wearing a China uniform in January.

Taiwan has cut two years of funding for its Olympian Huang Yu-ting, after she sparked fury for wearing a China uniform in the leadup to the Beijing Games.

In a statement released Thursday, Taiwan's Sports Administration said it made the decision based on "Huang Yuting's repeated controversial words and deeds during the preparation and participation in the Beijing Winter Olympics, which hurt the honor and image of the delegation, violated her role as a member of the national team, and did not meet the purpose and benefit of the government's subsidy to train athletes."

The Sports Administration added that it has "decided to stop subsidizing Huang Yuting's 2-year project training and competition funds from now on."

The speed skater "hurt the honour of the country as well as the people's feelings," the Sports Administration said.

In a now-deleted video posted to Facebook in January, the 33-year-old could be seen practicing in a China uniform, which she said was a gift from a friend on the Chinese team, per the South China Morning Post.

Her actions came under heavy criticism due to ongoing tensions between Taiwan and Beijing. Taiwanese social-media users called for her to "get out of Taiwan" if she wanted to represent the Chinese team.

She sparked further outrage when she posted, in response in January, a clip of the music video for Taylor Swift's hit song "Shake It Off," alongside the words: "My dear haters, this song is for you."

More backlash ensued when she said in an interview during the Games that she felt "at home" competing in Beijing, per AFP.

In its statement, the Sports Administration said the authorities spoke to Huang on Wednesday, and that she has "expressed her apologies." Huang did not immediately respond to Insider's request for comment.

On China's Twitter-like platform Weibo, internet users suggested she move to Beijing if Taiwan refused to support her career.

"Come to Mainland China. Netizens will donate money!" one user commented.