Sun’s win leaves a bitter taste

SUN Yang claimed a record fourth straight 400 metres freestyle title at the world championships on Sunday but the bitterness over the Chinese swimmer’s doping record spilled over to the medal ceremony as runner-up Mack Horton refused to take the podium.

Touching home in a time of 3:42.44, Sun held off a storming swim from Olympic champion Horton, who had failed to even qualify for the event at the Australian trials but was added to the squad as a discretionary pick.

Horton, who has had a very public feud with Sun, labelling him a “drug cheat” before beating him in the Rio final in 2016, came home just 0.73 behind the Chinese, with Italy’s Gabriele Detti third in 3:43.23.

Sun was cleared by a Fina doping panel of breaching the governing body’s rules earlier this year but the World Anti-Doping Agency is seeking to overturn the decision at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).

Australia’s Daily Telegraph last week posted a 59-page report by the Fina panel following a hearing at which Sun admitted to refusing to comply with an out-of-competition test because of his doubts over testers’ accreditation.

Sun’s lawyers have said he has asked CAS to give him the opportunity to clear his name by way of a public hearing.

Sun, who also served a threemonth suspension for testing positive to a banned substance in 2014, said Horton’s behaviour at the ceremony was uncalled for.

“I was aware that the Australian athlete had dissatisfaction and personal feelings towards me,” he told a news conference.

“But it was unfortunate because disrespecting me is okay, but disrespecting China was very unfortunate and I felt sorry about that. I am aware that I have fans here and also people who don’t like me, but I was just very satisfied to win today’s event.”

Horton made his feelings perfectly clear at the prize giving ceremony and then kept his distance from Sun.