Doping Ban Over, Sun Yang Eyeing Return to Competition
Sun Yang, the Chinese Olympic gold medalist banned four years for doping violations, is set to return to swimming with his suspension served.
As of May 28, Yang’s term of suspension has ended. The freestyler who won gold in the 400 free and 1,500 free at the London Olympics and gold in the 200 free in Rio in 2016 said in an interview with China’s state-run outlet The Paper that he is eyeing meets to return.
“I hope that I’ll be able to pick a competition and return to the starting block as soon as possible,” Sun, 32, said, as reported by AFP.
Sun was banned in 2020 for eight years for smashing vials of blood during a 2018 testing attempt. The Court of Arbitration for Sport in 2021 reduced the ban to four years. According to the selection criteria previously set forth by China, Sun should not have an opportunity to vie for a spot on the Chinese team for this summer’s Paris Olympics, which was set via trials in April. (The qualification period generally extends through late June.)
Sun, however, did not indicate that that would be a significant loss for him, as he is back in training.
“The Olympics are just a competition for me, they will end, and after they end, there will be another one,” he said. “I am frequently doing some simulated competition tests now that I’ve returned to training… I am constantly trying to recapture that feeling.”
Sun’s return to competition comes against the backdrop of another significant doping controversy hatched in China, with the Chinese Anti-Doping Agency clearing – and the World Anti-Doping Agency assenting – 23 swimmers who tested positive for trimetazidine in early 2021, just months before the Tokyo Olympics. Some of that group went on to win medals in Tokyo after a determination of environmental contamination.
The 11-time world champion would have opportunities to compete on the global stage if he’s able to regain some of his pre-suspension form. The 2025 World Aquatics Championships will head to Asia, hosted by Singapore. There is a short-course World Championships looming in Budapest at the end of 2024.
In the interview, Sun shook off any long-term effects of his suspension, a period that included his marriage to gymnast Zhang Doudou.
“When I look back (on the four years), I think it’s really no big deal,” he said. “In fact, the biggest change in my past four years is that I started a family and now have another half. These four years have added some color to my life.”
May he never darken an international meet again. Not only a convicted repeat drug cheat but a nasty piece of work as an individual too,apparently.
The sport needs a villain now. Bring it on Sun Yang.