China’s Sun scorched over doping record after he cruises into 400m freestyle final

China’s superstar swimmer Sun Yang easily clinched his place in the 400-metre freestyle final, winning his heat to qualify fourth overall on Saturday, before coming under heavy fire over his doping record.

After Sun had cruised into the final, two of his rivals took a swipe at the Chinese swimmer and the sniping began barely moments after the swimmers had towelled off.

Asked about known doping violators Sun and South Korean Park Tae-hwan competing in Rio, Australian Mack Horton sniffed: “I don’t have time or respect for drug cheats.”

Among Sun’s lengthy rap sheet over the past four years was a three-month doping suspension served secretly in 2014, for taking a banned stimulant that he said was for a heart complaint.

Former champion Park failed to reach the final on his return from an 18-month steroid ban and Canada’s Ryan Cochrane pulled no punches after he also missed the final.

“I wish it was even across the board,” he fumed. “For an athlete that’s clean it’s really frustrating. Once the Games are over, we’ll all look back and wish this was handled better.”