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Jonathan White

Chinese swimming star Sun Yang has said he will “definitely” appeal his eight-year ban from the pool that was announced on Friday.
“This is unfair. I firmly believe in my innocence,” the 28-year-old told China’s state news agency Xinhua. “I will definitely appeal to let more people know the truth.”
It was reported that Sun learned of the verdict while training in Beijing and left immediately, midway through the session. He had been training for the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games while he awaited the verdict.
The landmark ban, which relates to the smashing of blood vials and his refusal to provide samples at an out-of-competition doping test at his home in Hangzhou in September, 2018, essentially ends the triple Olympic gold medallist’s career.

Nmsl #booooooo https://t.co/bjWsQAzHJq
— Andrew Bogut (@andrewbogut) February 28, 2020

Sun has a month to appeal the ban handed out by the Court of Arbitration for Sport with the Swiss federal court.
The Chinese Swimming Association announced on Weibo that it “deeply regrets” the verdict and they “support Sun Yang to continue to safeguard his legitimate rights and interests through legal means”.
They also added that they hope for the authorities to clear up doping rules.
Han Qiaosheng, a host on state broadcaster CCTV, responded to the ban on his Weibo account.
“It’s unfair to Sun Yang. Starting today, Sun Yang will be suspended for eight years! I firmly support Sun Yang’s continued appeal,” he wrote, while asking for another hearing.

https://t.co/EMxweegJB7 pic.twitter.com/YTvkBzW6Yo
— Andrew Bogut (@andrewbogut) February 28, 2020

His sentiments were echoed by thousands of enraged Chinese social media users.
Australian basketball player Andrew Bogut reacted on Twitter with the message “NMSL” and crying emojis. The message, which comes from the Mandarin term “Ni Ma Si Le” (“Your mum is dead”), was what he was sent by angry netizens after he criticised Sun for his previous drug ban. This resulted in further ire from Sun fans on the social media platform.
Bogut then followed up with the DVD cover image of the film Big Trouble in Little China.
Bogut supported Mack Horton, the Australian swimmer who labelled Sun a “drug cheat” at the Rio 2016 Olympics, where he also beat Sun to the 400m freestyle gold medal.


Horton was the subject of media fury in China last year when he refused to share a podium with Sun after the Chinese superstar beat him in the same event at the world championships in South Korea.
So far, Horton has not spoken out on the Sun verdict. Many Twitter users have seen the ban as vindication for the Australian’s behaviour in Gwangju.
Others also reposted the video of Sun yelling at Britain’s Duncan Scott, who refused to shake his hand at another podium at the competition.
“You’re a loser. I am winner,” Sun screamed. Scott has also remained silent so far.


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Sun Yang

Sun Yang will ‘definitely’ appeal eight-year CAS ban as social media rages

Sun Yang winning the men’s 400m freestyle final at the 2019 Fina World Championships in Gwangju, South Korea. Photo: Xinhua

Olympic swimmer Sun Yang banned for eight years after CAS finds star guilty of doping offences

China’s Sun Yang has been banned for eight years. Photo: AFP

(FILES) In this file photo taken on November 15, 2019 China's swimming star Sun Yang, accused of smashing a blood vial with a hammer, is seen on a TV screen during a public hearing before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Montreux. - Chinese Olympic swimming champion Sun Yang will learn on February 28, 2020 whether he faces a possible eight-year ban for missing a drug test, the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) said. (Photo by jean-guy PYTHON / AFP)

Wada vs Sun Yang and Fina CAS doping verdict ‘expected within days’

Chinese swimmer Sun Yang poses after his public hearing at the Court of Arbitration for Sport in November 2019. Photo: Reuters

FILE - In this Sunday, July 21, 2019 file photo, China's Sun Yang, centre, holds up his gold medal as silver medalist Australia's Mack Horton, left, stands away from the podium with bronze medalist Italy's Gabriele Detti at right, after the men's 400m freestyle final at the World Swimming Championships in Gwangju, South Korea. One of China's biggest Olympic stars will undergo a rare public trial of a doping case on Friday, Nov. 15, 2019 with his 2020 Tokyo Games place at stake. Three-time gold medalist swimmer Sun Yang is facing a World Anti-Doping Agency appeal in Switzerland that seeks to ban him for up eight years. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, File)

FILED - 23 July 2019, South Korea, Gwangju: Chinese swimmer Sun Yang holds his golden medal after wining the 200m freestyle, men during the Swimming world championship. A public hearing began Friday at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) over a contested anti-doping test on China swimming star Sun Yang. Photo: Bernd Thissen/dpa

Mack Horton’s Sun Yang feud not behind Caulfield Grammar’s pool-naming snub

Silver medallist Australia's Mack Horton (left) and gold medallist Sun Yang pose with their medals after the final of the men's 400m freestyle event at the 2019 world championships. Photo: AFP

epaselect epa07731520 (L-R) Second placed Mack Horton of Australia keeps his distance to winner Yang Sun of China while they pose with their medals for photographers after competing in the men's 400m Freestyle Final during the Swimming events at the Gwangju 2019 FINA World Championships, Gwangju, South Korea, 21 July 2019. Gabriele Detti of Italy finishes third. EPA-EFE/PATRICK B. KRAEMER

Sun Yang trains at home for Tokyo 2020 as he awaits CAS doping verdict

Chinese swimmer Sun Yang holds his gold medal after wining the 200m freestyle at the 2019 world championships. Photo: DPA

Chinese swimmer Sun Yang poses after a public hearing of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) for the appeal filed by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) against him and the Federation Internationale de Natation (FINA), at the Conference Centre of the Fairmont Le Montreux Palace, in Montreux, Switzerland November 15, 2019. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse

Sun Yang’s CAS doping hearing blighted by translation farce, and inflamed by ‘construction worker’ claims from Chinese state media

Journalists watch Sun Yang’s public hearing from the media room at the Court of Arbitration for Sport in Montreux, Switzerland. Photo: Xinhua

China's swimming star Sun Yang (L), accused of smashing a blood vial with a hammer, arrives next to his counsel Ian Meaking prior to his public hearing before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Montreux on November 15, 2019. - Triple Olympic champion Sun, winner of 11 world titles and a national hero back home, faces an eight-year ban if charges against him are upheld by the Court of Arbitration for Sport. (Photo by jean-guy PYTHON / AFP)

In this picture taken on July 25, 2019, China's Sun Yang attends a swimming training session at the 2019 World Championships at Nambu University Municipal Aquatics Center in Gwangju, South Korea. (Photo by Oli SCARFF / AFP)

Gold medalist China's Sun Yang gestures to Britain's bronze medalist Duncan Scott, left, following the medal ceremony in the men's 200m freestyle final at the World Swimming Championships in Gwangju, South Korea, Tuesday, July 23, 2019. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein)

epa07998533 Chinese swimming star Sun Yang (R) reacts as he arrives for the Court of Arbitration for Sport, (CAS) public hearing, in Montreux, Switzerland, 15 November 2019. One of China's biggest Olympic stars and three-time gold medalist swimmer Sun Yang is facing a World Anti-Doping Agency appeal in Switzerland that seeks to ban him for up eight years for allegedly refusing to give samples voluntarily. EPA-EFE/JEAN-CHRISTOPHE BOTT

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Sun Yang will ‘definitely’ appeal eight-year CAS ban as superstar finds support from Chinese Swimming Association and state media host.
