While former world record holder Sun Yang of China missed the chance to represent his nation at the 2024 Olympic Games, he will still be making his post-ban debut this year.
According to Anhui local news site Dawan, 32-year-old Sun is set to race at the National Summer Swimming Championships taking place in Hefei from August 25th – August 28th.
Sources from the Anhui Provincial Sports Bureau revealed to Dawan that they received confirmation from the sports authority about Sun’s participation and the arrival of the high-profile athlete has intensified security measures at the venue. (China Daily)
The hype surrounding the freestyle ace’s return is real, as the tag “Sun Yang‘s Comeback Confirmed in Hefei” reportedly climbed to 9th place on Weibo’s trending list, garnering over 14 million views. (China Daily)
After serving a 4-year doping suspension which lasted until May of this year. We reported in June of last year that Sun returned to training and had no plans to retire.
Entering Paris, Sun still owned the men’s LCM 1500 freestyle world record with the 14:31.02 he produced for gold at the 2012 Olympic Games. However, American Bobby Finke took this down as he topped the podium just weeks ago.
You can review how Sun Yang‘s doping suspension unfolded via our past articles:
- September 2018: Sun challenges authorization of doping control agents during test, ending with a vial of his blood being smashed
- January 2019: an independent anti-doping panel rules in Sun’s favor, leading FINA (the international governing body for swimming) to not issue a sanction against Sun
- March 2019: WADA (the World Anti-Doping Agency) appeals that decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport
- November 2019: CAS hears the case in a fully-public hearing marred by translation issues. The full 11-hour hearing is live-streamed online.
- February 2020: The three-person CAS panel rules against Sun, banning him for eight years.
- July 2020: Sun files two appeals with the Swiss Federal Tribunal, hoping to either have his ban overturned or revised.
- December 2020: The Swiss Federal Tribunal overturns the ban, sending the case back to CAS for a second hearing. The decision centers around the first panel’s president, who tweeted racist comments about China on social media.
- May 2021: Yang does not compete at the Chinese National Championships, amid uncertainty of the outcome of his CAS retrial.
- June 2021: CAS retrial results in ruling to reduce Yang’s ban to 4 years and 3 months
- December 2021: Sun Yang Under Investigation for Training at Government-Funded Facilities
It would be peak if he threw down a new WR
I’m just grateful he found a dentist. Reminded me of a Bond supervillain
My glorious king’s return
This dude gets too much hate. Loved his freestyle technique pre 2013, let’s see him race!
Too much hate? Even without the drug test fiasco, he actively talked down to other competitors and talked trash to them ON the medal stand. Dude has no humility and no sportsmanship
There were supposedly some in-water incidents in the warm-up pool at some championship meets.
So were the original testers actually properly accredited/following protocol or what? The FINA panel says they didn’t but then the CAS panel says they did
He is gonna inspire some more kids and hype up swimming in china but at his age he ain’t gonna go faster than a 3:43 400, 7:40 800, and a 14:40 1500. Those times are gonna cut it anymore, heck after all this time I wouldn’t be surprised if a different chinese distance swimmer takes his place.
Those times are still fast enough to make the championship finals at most World/Olympic championships
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I do not know what events he will race and assuming it is LCM, he would impress me right now if he goes anything like 1.46/ 3.47/ 7.48/ 14:55 or faster
WADA has the opportunity to do the funniest thing ever
Enhanced games has the opportunity to do an even funnier thing
At 32, he is washed. I’d like to see what China can cook up though.