Gao, ranked 20 in the world, is one of two Chinese-born players on the US women's team. Gao moved to the US in 1994, when she was 24, after a stellar career in China that saw her win the world championship doubles title in 1991 and silver at the 1992 Olympics, also in doubles.
Former world champion and Austria's top player Werner Schlager also said the move would be damaging for the sport.
"Tell them to stay out? No way. We [European-born players] have to do more to be better. It's not good to lock them out," he said.
The Austrian men's team has one Chinese-born player and the women's two.
Controversy surrounding the move is set to ignite as the 32-member ITTF board of directors, representing various countries including China, prepares to vote on the proposal tomorrow.
Officials said concerns existed that table tennis would fail to attract players at junior and senior levels if national teams simply chose players switching from China and other nations.
RSS