Swimmer cops King hit
Fresh concerns over controversial Chinese star
AMERICAN anti-drugs campaigner Lilly King has lashed out at swimming’s world governing body for allowing Sun Yang to compete at the world championships.
Her protest came in the wake of explosive reports that Sun smashed his doping sample with a hammer last year and also asked to be separated from his Australian nemesis Mack Horton during a practice session.
King blasted FINA for letting Russian swimmers compete at the Rio Olympics after an investigation exposed widespread doping and the breaststroke champion didn’t hold back when asked whether Sun should be racing at the world championships starting tomorrow.
“Personally I’m not really comfortable about FINA’s approach to doping control and what they’re doing to control it,” she said.
“I think all of us would say we’re racing dopers at some point and we shouldn’t have to say that.
“First, they can start with not letting people who have smashed blood vials in tests compete in their meets. That’s really sketchy and pretty insane that that’s happening.”
Sun escaped punishment after he destroyed his samples at an out-of-competition test at his home last year, successfully arguing that he only destroyed the samples after a communication misunderstanding with doping officers.
His excuse has been universally rejected by rival swimmers who say there’s no room for any misunderstanding regarding the rules for random tests, while the World Anti Doping Agency has appealed against the decision to let Sun off, although the hearing has been delayed until after the world championships.
“We do welcome the protocol that they do have and we just know how to get the job done and we want to do it right,” US sprint sensation Caeleb Dressel said. “The sport has to be clean. It has to be an even playing field.” ELITE swimmers are such a superstitious lot so there’s one thing they never do.
They never talk about their biggest rivals in fear they may jinx themselves.
But Ariarne Titmus, the new torchbearer for Australian long distance swimming, is the exception to the rule.
Her biggest rival is Katie Ledecky and Titmus is completely unfazed about discussing the American, dubbed the GOAT of female swimming, giving up any pretence that there’s anyone else standing between her and the top spot on the podium.
“Me racing her is probably one of the most anticipated things out of all the races,” Titmus said.
“I definitely wouldn’t be swimming as far as I am without her. If I haven’t got someone to push me, I wouldn’t be swimming as fast as I am.”
Although Ledecky has never lost a race at international level at 400m and beyond, Titmus isn’t afraid to talk up her chances of an upset.
She reckons the 200m, Ledecky’s weakest event, is a shootout, with Gold Coast’s Emma McKeon, Taylor Ruck and Federica Pellegrini all in with a shot.
Titmus has already conceded the 800m to American world record-holder Ledecky but tomorrow night’s 400m at the world championships is the intriguing one.