Extraordinary moment Chinese swimmer Sun Yang – who served a doping ban in 2014 – explodes at Britain’s Duncan Scott for refusing to share a podium with him at the World Championships
- Duncan Scott is the latest medallist to refuse to share a podium with Sun Yang
- Sun reacted with fury as Scott followed the example of Australian Mack Horton
- The controversial Chinese swimmer has previously served a doping ban
British swimmer Duncan Scott became the latest medallist to refuse to share a podium with Chinese former drug cheat Sun Yang at the swimming championships on Tuesday.
And Sun reacted with fury, exploding and shouting in the face of his opponent after he followed the actions of Australian Mack Horton just two days before.
The Chinese swimmer – who has previously served a doping ban – claimed the title only after his rival Danas Rapsys – who touched home first in one minute 45.78 seconds – was belatedly disqualified for a false start.
Chinese swimmer Sun Yang berates Duncan Scott for refusing to share the podium with him
Sun shakes hands with bronze medallist Martin Malyutin as he shouts at Britain’s Scott
Video footage of the ceremony shows Sun celebrating in the direction of his opponent
Sun was incensed after Scott refused to share the podium with him after his victory
Sun Yang exchanges words with Scott after the medal ceremony for the 200m freestyle final
Scott shared the bronze medal with Martin Malyutin of Russia in the men’s 200m Freestyle Final in Gwangju.
He observed the national anthem but then stepped off the podium and refused to engage with Sun.
The Chinese swimmer reacted angrily, shouting and gesturing at Scott, who also refused to take part in a group photo on the podium and kept his distance from Sun as they left the stage.
Scott gave only a brief response when asked about the podium incident.
‘You do quite a job of making sure everyone continues to know about it and so I guess that’s all I have got to say about it,’ he said.
Sun was accused of smashing a blood sample after a doping test in 2018, but has been allowed to compete this year after a FINA panel cleared him of breaching the governing body’s rules.
He was suspended for three months in 2014 for taking a banned stimulant. Sun claimed the medication was for a heart problem.
Scott stands away from the podium as the three other medallist pose for pictures
Scott is the second swimmer to refuse to acknowledge former drug cheat Sun this week
On Monday, Horton – who labelled Sun a ‘drug cheat’ before the Rio Olympics final in 2016 – refused to share the podium with Sun after taking silver behind the Chinese swimmer in the men’s 400m freestyle event.
Sun currently faces a hearing at the Court of Arbitration for Sport in September over a decision to clear him of a further doping offence, and many of his rivals believe he should not be competing.
Having ignored Horton’s gesture, Sun appeared more animated by Scott’s stance, turning and appearing to mouth something towards the 22-year-old as they left the stage.
Scott’s team mate Adam Peaty, who swam in the 50 breaststroke semi-finals, said Scott was ‘completely right’ to take action on the podium, adding that Sun should consider his place in swimming.
On Sunday Mack Horton refused to step on the podium after he was beaten by Sun Yang
‘He should be asking himself now should he really be in sport when the people were booing him, but I know how they are and I know how he is so.
‘I mean, if I was swimming (the 400) I wouldn’t have gone on the podium like Mack.’
Peaty, who has previously criticised Sun and the decision to allow him to compete in Gwangju with the doping case hanging over him, said athletes had a right to speak out.
‘I think the most important thing as a sportsperson is you have the right to a voice and Duncan showed his voice and so did the crowd,’ he added.
‘So it’s completely fair that whatever is going on behind the scenes now is obviously not going right because if the fans aren’t wanting him (Sun) I don’t even know why he’s here.’