Rivals still fuming as Sun shines

OUTSPOKEN swimming star Adam Peaty says a new rule ushered in by world body FINA to prevent a repeat of the podium protests that have plagued China’s Sun Yang at the world titles in South Korea is “meaningless”.

It has been revealed FINA on Tuesday fast-tracked a new Code of Conduct provision entitled “rules of conduct during the competition” in the fallout over Sun being snubbed at Gwangju.

Swimmers are now at risk of losing a medal or being banned if they adopt the stance of Australia’s Mack Horton and Briton Duncan Scott, who have failed to acknowledge Sun on the podium.

It says athletes can receive a ban or lose their medal if they indulge in “any political, religious or discriminatory statement or behaviour” at the podium. But world breaststroke champion Peaty, who has been a long time critic of Sun and FINA, said nothing would stop him from speaking out on doping issues.

“We’re here to swim and we’re not going to get involved in a [discussion on a] code of conduct that ain’t gonna change anything — [it’s] meaningless,” the Briton told website. “Athletes are always entitled to freedom of speech and when we detect that something is wrong and there’s cheating, why shouldn’t we have a voice?”

Every national swimming federation president and secretary general was issued the new edict by FINA on Tuesday, barely an hour after Scott followed Horton’s lead and failed to acknowledge Sun at the 200m freestyle medal ceremony, sparking ugly scenes.

Sun gesticulated wildly at Scott postceremony, with TV cameras capturing the 11-time world champ saying: “You’re a loser; I’m winning.” Scott and Sun were issued with warnings from FINA for “inadequate behaviour”.