Swiss Federal Court overturns eight-year doping ban on Chinese swimmer Sun Yang

The Swiss Federal Court has upheld Sun Yang’s appeal against an eight-year doping ban that was issued earlier in the year.

In February, Yang was found guilty by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in an explosive verdict and imposed the maximum eight-year ban.

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) made a statement today saying it had been informed of the decision to revoke the ban on swimmers.

“The decision of the Swiss Federal Court confirms a challenge against the Chairman of the CAS Panel and does not comment on the merits of this case.

“In the CAS award, WADA clearly prevailed on the merits of the case, as it was able to show that there were a number of aspects of the original FINA decision that were incorrect under the World Anti-Doping Code and related International Standard of Testing. and Investigations.

“WADA will take steps to present its case forcefully again when the matter returns to the CAS Panel, which will be chaired by a different chair.”

A vial of the 28-year-old’s own blood sample was smashed with a hammer during a testing session, but Sun was cleared by the swimming governing body, FINA, of anti-doping violations, agreeing that the testers had not submitted a proper identification during your visit.

The ruling outraged WADA, which took the matter to the CAS, demanding a two- to eight-year suspension for missing the out-of-competition test.

The Swiss-based CAS confirmed WADA’s appeal against FINA and Sun, one of China’s most renowned athletes who had already complied with a doping ban in 2014.

The eight-year ban effectively ended the triple Olympic gold medalist’s professional career in the pool.

Today’s decision does not state how much the ban will be lowered.

THE PAST OF SUN YANG

Sun, a three-time Olympic freestyle champion, has become one of the world’s most infamous athletes in the eyes of Australians after twice drawing the ire of doping officials and colliding with local favorite Mack Horton.

Sun, who won the 400m and 1500m freestyle in London and the 200m in Rio, first served a doping suspension in 2014 after testing positive for a drug that he said he was using to treat heart palpitations and not I knew it had recently been added to the banned list. .

Australian swimmer Mack Horton spoke out against Sun at the Rio Olympics and his protest appeared to be validated when his rival was accused of refusing to provide blood and urine samples when drug testers visited his home in China in September 2018. .

After being approved by FINA, Sun was able to compete in the World Championships in Gwangju, South Korea, in July, where he won two golds but became the focus of protests from his rivals, including Horton, who infamously refused to climb. to the podium after finishing. second to Sun in the 400m freestyle.

Sun’s CAS hearing, the first in 20 years open to the public, was plagued by technical difficulties and misinterpretation between Chinese and English that frustrated the lawyers and delayed proceedings.

Before Ferbuary’s verdict was given, Australian swim coach Jacco Verhaeren tried to downplay the importance of the result on Horton’s chances in Tokyo.

“Mack is a very focused athlete, he’s not easily distracted and he won’t be distracted by this either,” Verhaeren said Friday.

“He’s dealt with situations like this before and he’s never distracted, so he won’t be in this case.

“He made his stance. His stance won’t change and that’s fine. But we’re not in the business of commenting on foreign athletes or whatever the outcome is.”

Australian Olympic 100m freestyle champion Kyle Chalmers remains at Horton’s corner. “I am in full support of my teammate Mack … I support Mack and what Mack stands for,” Chalmers said Friday.