Sun Yang coach Denis Cotterell drops swimmer after CAS ban over doping test
- Veteran distance coach Denis Cotterell terminates contract with Chinese Swimming Association to retire
- Swimmer will appeal eight-year ban over 2018 doping test but long-time coach does not support it
The long-time coach of Chinese swim star Sun Yang has washed his hands of the swimmer and retired from the sport, Australian media reported on Sunday.
Cotterell had coached Sun off and on since 2007, training the then 15-year-old for the 1,500m at the Beijing 2008 Olympic Games. The pair worked together as Sun won gold in London in 2012 and four years later in Rio. Over the course of their time together Sun won more Olympic and worlds golds than any other male swimmer except Michael Phelps.
The Sport Australia hall of famer was a long-time defender of China’s star swimmer, telling The Daily Telegraph in 2017 that “It’s nice when you’re in glass houses”, of Australian criticism of Sun.
Cotterell also spoke out at last year’s world championships in South Korea where Sun competed as he awaited the CAS hearing filed by the World Anti-Doping Agency against him and swimming governing body Fina.