International Swimmers React to Sun Yang’s 8-year Doping Ban

As the fallout from the news of Sun Yang’s 8-year ban continues, many swimmers have taken to social media to express their views on the controversy. Included in that list is Olympic champion Chad le Clos, who just yesterday was quoted in an interview with The Associated Press saying “He (Sun Yang) should be banned. It’s as simple as that”.

Le Clos came second to Sun Yang in the 200m freestyle at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games, and believes he should “get back” the gold medal following Sun’s ban. Today le Clos appeared on CNN, which you can read more about here.

Editor’s note: SwimSwam has searched multiple social media networks, including Weibo, to find reactions from Asian swimmers, but so far have been unable to find any. We will update if and when we do.

Former swimmer and Olympic gold medalist Rebecca Adlington also took to Twitter to express her thoughts. In 2016, Adlington called for a ‘full investigation’ to be carried out in swimming following doping allegations in Russian and Chinese swimming.

At the time she said, “We know what it feels like to step up on the blocks at an Olympic Games and look sideways at the other swimmers in the next lanes and be thinking ‘are you clean? Are you not? Is something going to come out afterwards?

She added that a “full-investigation” is the only way to say “the sport is clean”.

American swimmers Cody Miller and Andrew Wilson also posted tweets about the news, with Wilson saying he is “shocked” that “they (CAS) did the right thing”.

A host of British swimmers have also commented on the news from today, led by Olympic champion Adam Peaty. In an statement, Peaty said “I’m pleased with today’s verdict. I believe a ban was the right decision. I feel strongly about clean sport and I feel a responsibility as an athlete to be true to myself, my sport, my country and the next generation of athletes who look to us for inspiration”.

Duncan Scott, who refused to stand on the podium with Sun Yang at the World Aquatics Championship in Gwangju last July, has also released a statement. It reads: “I fully respect and support the decision that has been made and announced by the Court of Arbitration for Sport this morning. I believe in clean sport and a level playing field for all athletes and I trust in CAS and WADA to uphold these values”.

James Guy, who came 4th in the 200m freestyle in Rio – an event which Sun Yang won gold – also tweeted about the news:

A host of other swimmers have shared articles on their social media accounts including Phillip HeintzSarah VaseyBlake Pieroni and Shane Ryan.

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Ivan
4 years ago
EHHH
4 years ago

Paltrinieri: “No joy, only great sadness.”
“To me this whole story leaves only so much sadness, as always in all cases of doping,” Greg tells SkySport, “I just can’t cheer because a rival of mine is found positive for doping. I can’t find anything good in it, I just can’t rejoice. I’ll say a paradox, I’m almost sorry this news came out.”

Sorry about Sun Yang or the credibility of the anti-doping system?

“Sorry for him, of course not. My regret stems from the fact that Sun Yang has marked my professional growth as an athlete. Ever since I was little he has always been my reference point, he was the champion I wanted to beat, I worked hard… Read more »

Josh
4 years ago

You know what I find fascinating? When there are doping whispers amongst elite swimmers, they’re right more often than they are wrong: The East Germans, Chinese women, Michelle smith, etc etc. It’s almost as if they can tell just from looking at them if they’re doping

Will Tyler
4 years ago

This is going to be the beginning of the end for CAS. Eight year ban for testing agency’s own negligence whereas Aussies/US gets 2 year slap on the wrist for TESTING POSITIVE of anabolic steroids. The nationality of the CAS officials needs to be scrutinized and the officials banned from any rulings.

Ninety9th
Reply to  Will Tyler
4 years ago

Perhaps the 8 year ban is based on a second offence, while the two year bans are for a first offence?

swim4fun
4 years ago

LOL–Chad Le Clos wants recognition of his ingenious racing strategy!

anonymoose
4 years ago

it doesnt get better than that

Snarky
4 years ago

Cornel’s magic money bag!

IM FAN
4 years ago

The 2019 world champs are even more egregious. Not only was he allowed to swim despite it being after the vial incident, but he is keeping his medals from it as well… WTF

IK the explanation is that he wasn’t actually caught doping but with his previous history + the fact that the incident that got him banned being before the world champs it’s inexcusable

Admin
Reply to  IM FAN
4 years ago

I now that everyone wanted him out of Worlds, but it would be a really bad precedent to set to find a swimmer ‘not guilty’ in a doping hearing and then leave them suspended anyway. This is different than the Jack case in that Sun was found ‘not guilty’ before Worlds, while Jack hasn’t even completed her initial punishment process.

They should have just found a way to complete the appeals before Worlds. That would have been the most fair to all involved. 9 months should be plenty of time to complete a process like this.

Tyson
Reply to  Braden Keith
4 years ago

I agree with what you say but now that his been found guilty he should be stripped of his 3019 world champs medals now