Justice for Mack Horton as Chinese swimming rival Sun Yang is found GUILTY of being a drug cheat and is banned for eight years
- Chinese swimmer Sun Yang has been banned for eight years following appeal
- The Olympic champion did not cooperate during drug test in September 2018
- Sun's entourage allegedly smashed vials containing his blood with a hammer
- Australian swimmer Mack Horton famously protested against Sun in July 2019
- Horton remained behind the podium after finishing second to Sun in their race
- Sun has vowed to appeal against the ban and said the ruling was 'unfair'
Chinese swimmer Sun Yang has been banned for eight years for breaking anti-doping rules after a vial of his blood was smashed with a hammer.
The three-time Olympic champion was found guilty of refusing to cooperate with sample collectors during a visit to his home in September 2018.
The 28-year-old will be unable to defend his 200-metre freestyle title at the 2020 Tokyo Olympics after the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) handed down their decision on Friday.
CAS upheld an appeal from the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) against a decision by world swimming's governing body FINA to clear Sun of wrongdoing.
The ruling is a massive victory for Australian swimmer Mack Horton, who came second to Sun at the 2019 World Championships in the 400m freestyle. It is not clear whether Horton will now be awarded the gold medal.
Chinese swimmer Sun Yang (centre) has been banned for eight years for breaking anti-doping rules after a vial of his blood was smashed with a hammer
A FINA report said Sun questioned the credentials of the testers during the at-home visit in September 2018.
During the November hearing, evidence was presented that Sun's entourage smashed vials containing the swimmer's blood with a hammer to avoid being tested.
Arguably China's most famous athlete, Sun was convicted of doping in 2014 and served a three-month ban after testing positive to a banned stimulant.
Sun, who won a total of 11 golds in five straight world championships from 2011 to 2019, is banned from the pool until February 2028.
Share this article
'The athlete failed to establish that he had a compelling justification to destroy his sample collection containers and forego the doping control when, in his opinion, the collection protocol was not in compliance,' the CAS panel of three judges agreed in a unanimous verdict.
Horton famously protested against the drug cheat at the World Championships in South Korea in July 2019.
The 23-year-old was frustrated that Sun was able to compete despite cheating allegations and the impending Court of Arbitration for Sport hearing.
Sun narrowly beat Horton to claim his fourth-straight 400m freestyle world title.
Horton accepted his silver medal but did not stand on the podium alongside Sun as the Chinese national anthem played - nor did he pose for photographs with his rival.
British swimmer Duncan Scott followed suit after the 200m medal ceremony, also refusing to stand on the podium with Sun or pose for a picture afterwards.
In ugly scenes that followed, Sun gestured wildly at the British swimmer and said: 'You're a loser; I'm winning yes.'
China's official Xinhua News Agency reported on Friday Sun will 'definitely' appeal the CAS decision.
'This is unfair. I firmly believe in my innocence,' Sun was quoted telling the publication.
'I will definitely appeal to let more people know the truth.'
Arguably China's most famous athlete, Sun was convicted of doping in 2014 and served a three-month ban after testing positive to a banned stimulant
Horton and Sun's long-standing feud began ahead of the Rio Olympics in 2016 when Horton labelled the Chinese swimmer a 'drug cheat'.
In an interview with Sunday Night last year, Horton said athletes need to stand up for a clean sport.
Speaking to the smashing of vials, Horton said: 'I wouldn't do what he did. I don't think many athletes would do what he did'.
Horton said his opinion of Sun was not personal but rather reflective of the standards athletes are expected to meet.
In an interview with Sunday Night last year, Horton said athletes need to stand up for a clean sport. Speaking to the smashing of vials, Horton said: 'I wouldn't do what he did. I don't think many athletes would do what he did'
'Not at all [personal]. This isn't a China Australia thing. This isn't a China versus the world thing,' Horton explained.
'This is a principle and the way the sport is governed and controlled.'
In the wake of Horton's protest, the swimmer was bombarded with vile abuse and death threats from Sun's fan base on social media.
Ahead of Friday's decision Australian swimming head coach Jacco Verhaeren said the verdict would not distract his team.
'Mack is a very focused athlete, he's not easily distracted and he won't be distracted by this either,' Verhaeren said on Friday.
'He has dealt with situations like this before and never gets distracted so he won't be in this case.
'He made his stance. His stance won't change and that is fine.
'But we're not in the business of commenting on foreign athletes or whatever the outcome is.'
Australia's Olympic 100m freestyle champion Kyle Chalmers said the Sun verdict would be largely irrelevant.
'I am in full support of my teammate Mack ... I support Mack and what Mack stands for,' Chalmers said on Friday.
'It (Sun's case) is not something I have really looked into or something I will look into.
'I'm sure we will hear around pool deck but it's not something I'm going to be searching on google today.'
The pair's long-standing feud began ahead of the Rio Olympics in 2016 when Horton labelled the Chinese swimmer a 'drug cheat' (Horton is pictured with his partner Ella Walter)
In a statement, WADA Director General Olivier Niggli said they welcomed the CAS ruling.
'WADA decided to appeal the original FINA ruling having carefully reviewed it and having concluded that there were a number of points that seemed to be incorrect under the Code,' Mr Niggli said.
'Today's CAS ruling confirms those concerns and is a significant result.
'We will now need to take time to review the decision in full, and we will continue to review diligently all anti-doping decisions taken by Code Signatories to ensure they are in line with the Code and, when warranted, to exercise our independent right of appeal.'
