Chinese gym refunds client, offers membership elsewhere after body odour complaints

A man in China has been refunded by a gym which asked him not to use the premises any more and even offered him a three-month membership card at another gym because management had received too many complaints about his strong body odour.The man, identified only as Shi, lives in Hangzhou in eastern China’s Zhejiang province. He spent 6,388 yuan (US$940) on a three-year membership at a gym in May 2025, meaning he could use the facility until the end of April 2028, local media Zhejiang TV reported.Shi said he had lost a lot of weight a decade ago, dropping from 125kg to 80kg. Since then, he became a workout enthusiast and took part in various sports regularly.After joining the gym, Shi exercised there five times a week.Shi became a hardcore gym fanatic after a major weight-loss journey a decade ago, leading him to work out daily and play sports regularly. Photo: ShutterstockBut on June 20, he received a message from the gym informing him that his membership was being terminated after a slew of complaints about the strong smell inside the facility caused by him.“We thought it through carefully for a long time before making this decision. We will refund your money for the remaining time of your membership period,” the gym told Shi.The message continued: “We are already under pressure to do business amid the economic downturn and we are trying to treat each customer well. But many customers repeatedly complained to us that the strong odour in the gym had affected them. So we have to end your membership.”Shi said he received 3,888 yuan (US$570) from the gym as well as a three-month membership card to another gym.Gym workouts have transitioned from a niche hobby into a mainstream lifestyle across Asia, as seen in this bustling facility in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Photo: ShutterstockThe gym where Shi previously worked out told media that he tended to sweat profusely and exude a strong odour.Many customers said there was an obvious foul smell around the machine Shi had just used or as he passed by. No one liked to use the treadmills near the machine Shi was using or had used.The gym said it had once allocated exercise equipment in the corner for his use and asked him to come during non-rush hours. But that did not quash the complaints.Shi admitted he sweats a lot but he usually brought several towels to wipe his perspiration and to cover the equipment in an effort to reduce the impact on other people.Further ReadingHe said he had hoped he could be allowed to work out at the previous gym since it was near his home.Shi shared his story with a popular local livelihood programme on Zhejiang TV, hoping it could solve his problem.Hoping to find a solution, Shi, above, had taken his story to a popular consumer affairs programme on Zhejiang TV, aiming to win back access to his local gym. Photo: HandoutSince the programme, there has been no progress. It is not clear whether Shi has complained to relevant authorities.The programme did kick-off a heated discussion on mainland Chinese social media, with most people supporting the gym.“My God, he even complained to the TV station. I side with the gym,” one internet user said.“He must have bromhidrosis. Only sweating does not stink badly. I once had a customer with bromhidrosis and I could not breathe when standing beside him,” another person said.But a third commenter pointed out: “Isn’t that discrimination? After all, the gym is the place where people sweat.”