Chinese swimmer Sun Yang wins in local meet on return from doping ban

SHANGHAI – Disgraced three-time Olympic swimming champion Sun Yang has won his first title in the pool after coming back from a four-year doping ban.

The Chinese freestyle specialist was originally suspended for eight years by the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) in 2020 for smashing vials of blood during a 2018 test, the circumstances of which he still disputes.

The ban was reduced on appeal to four years and three months by the Court of Arbitration for Sport in 2021. It expired in May, but was too late for him to join the Chinese team at the Paris Olympics.

The swimmer instead earned his first post-ban gold medal on Aug 25 at the second-level Chinese National Summer Swimming Championships.

Sun won the men’s 400m freestyle, pulling ahead of his rivals after the first 200 metres to win in 3min 49.58sec, considerably slower than his personal best, an Olympic record 3:40.14 set at London 2012.

The 32-year-old told state media outlet Xinhua he could have done better and also expressed gratitude for his family’s support.

“Four years away from competition and without intensive training, I do feel rusty in controlling the tempo, and I need more competitions. But it’s a good start for my comeback, and I’m happy with this result,” Sun said.

He wrote in a post on the X-like Weibo social platform on Aug 25 that his past victories and failures had all “taught (him) how to face life’s many difficulties and challenges”.

His return comes after Chinese swimmers faced intense scrutiny over doping allegations at the 2024 Olympics in Paris.

Sun was the first Chinese male swimmer to win Olympic gold, in the 400m and 1,500m freestyle at the London Games, but has long been a controversial figure in the pool.

Some rivals called him a cheat at the 2016 Rio Olympics and two competitors refused to stand with him on medal podiums at the 2019 world championships.

He was also given a three-month ban in 2014 after testing positive for a banned substance. AFP