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China’s Sun Yang is in tears after winning the men's 1,500m freestyle at the 2018 Asian Games in Indonesia. Photo: EPA

Sun Yang scandal: It’s fake news say China swim chiefs as social media backs Olympic champion in face of doping allegations

  • Chinese Swimming Association cites Fina to say swimmer has done no wrong, while Sun’s lawyer claims that testers were unqualified
  • Support online is strongly in favour of China’s multiple Olympic champion

The Chinese Swimming Association has backed Sun Yang in the face of a British newspaper report that alleges he abused anti-doping agents at an out-of-competition test at his home last September.

The governing body slammed the report by The Sunday Times as “fake news” citing Fina’s decision, made after a 13-hour doping panel hearing on January 3, that the swimmer had done no wrong in refusing to meet the testers’ demands.

“Mr Sun Yang did not commit an anti-doping rule violation under FINA DC 2.3 or FINA DC 2.5,” the CSA said in a statement on Sunday.

The CSA said it had told Sun to “fully cooperate with Fina and he did so”.

Gold medallist Sun Yang after the 1,500m freestyle final at the 2018 Asian Games. Photo: Xinhua

On Sunday, Sun’s lawyer Zhang Qihuai released a statement that threatened legal action against The Sunday Times.

Zhang also claimed in a later interview with state news agency Xinhua that two of the testers accompanying the doping control officer (DCO) were untrained.

“As a matter of fact, the other two people lacked doping control training, DCO certificates and relevant authorisation papers,” Zhang said, claiming that one of them was a schoolmate and another a friend.

The lawyer claimed his client informed local swimming authorities of his misgivings about the testers and they ordered him not to hand over any samples.


The two major sports online agencies, Sina Sports and Tencent Sports, quoted the Xinhua story. Tencent Sports cited the recent IOC and Wada investigations into doping scandals involving Russian athletes and wondered if “China would be next”.

Sun Yang winning the gold medal in the 1,500m freestyle at the 2018 Asian Games. Photo: EPA

Most Chinese social media users have also been resolute in their support for the swimming superstar.

One of the most liked comments on Sina Sports decried the unqualified testers and wrote that “Sun Yang should sue them!” with another saying, “During this period, Western countries have exhausted all kinds of despicable means in order to discredit China”.

They were not the only commenter to call conspiracy. “Fortunately Sun was so alert (in the testing process). These persons must have their own hidden agenda behind and must identity the one who masterminds this,” wrote another.

One user wrongly pointed out that the “21-day period of appeal has passed” so it is too late for Wada to take a stand against Fina’s decision. As per the original report in The Sunday Times, the deadline is approaching later this week.

“Sun Yang is innocent, believe him,” wrote another Sina Sports commentator, with another saying “Support Sun Yang”.

Sun Yang competing at the 2018 Asian Games. Photo: Xinhua

Such support was not quite universal, though. One commentator wrote that “Sports competition is a doping contest. Whoever eats and is not checked is strong. Whoever eats can’t find it is technology. Whoever eats it and finds it is unlucky! !”

Another was even more clear: “There is no doubt that he is using stimulants.”

Sun was found guilty of doping in 2014 and it caused friction with other swimmers, notably Australia’s Mack Horton who beat Sun in the 400m final at Rio 2016.

The Chinese swimmer was handed a three-month ban for testing positive for trimetazidine, which he claimed he took as heart medication without realising it had been banned by Wada months earlier.

Wada has since strengthened its position on the drug, banning it both in and out and of competition.

Sun, who won the 2018 Asian Games 1,500m freestyle gold, is one of China’s greatest medal hopes at the Tokyo Olympics next summer.

This article appeared in the South China Morning Post print edition as: China body backs Sun Yang, hitting out at ‘fake news’
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