Recent Australian Report Highlights Possibility of Banned Chinese Olympic Champion Sun Yang Making a Comeback
Reports from Australia suggest that China’s banned Olympic champion Sun Yang may be planning a comeback for the upcoming Paris Games.
News Corp papers have published today, revealing that the 32-year-old Sun “is still secretly preparing for a shock return to the Chinese team at this year’s Paris Olympics.”
According to the report, Sun is continuing to train every day in his homeland and sources have confirmed to News Corp that he remains on China’s registered anti-doping testing pool.
“That’s a sure sign he’s still planning a comeback because there’s no other reason why anyone would remain on the registered list because it requires them to provide specific details about their daily whereabouts and undertake random, unannounced blood and urine tests,” wrote News Corp chief Olympic correspondent Julian Linden.
“As soon as athletes retire, they immediately take themselves off the anti-doping registry so they can live normal lives, but it means they are ineligible to compete.
“Sun is already banned from racing because he is currently serving a four-year suspension for tampering with his samples before they could be checked for performance-enhancing substances.
“But his ban – which was reduced from eight years expires on May 27 – exactly two months before the opening day of swimming at the Paris Olympics.
“The Chinese Olympic trials are scheduled to take place in April, which would seem to rule Sun out of contention, but the Chinese Swimming Association can use their discretionary powers to pick him as long as he posts a qualifying time before June 23.”
Should Sun stage a comeback, he is expected to compete in the 400 meters freestyle, the first event on the swimming program in Paris.
Sun previously won the 400m gold at the 2012 London Olympics but was beaten at Rio in 2016 by recently retired Mack Horton, who famously protested at Sun’s inclusion at the 2019 World Championships while his case was still pending.
If Sun does make it to Paris, he might have to compete against two Aussies – Sam Short, the reigning world champion, and Elijah Winnington, the 2022 world champion.
With Short opting out of this year’s World Championships that are starting in Doha today, Australia’s hopes lie with Winnington, who has arrived from a Thailand training camp with coach Dean Boxall and other members of his squad, including World Championship silver medallist Shayna Jack.
The men’s 400m will be the feature event on the opening day with Winnington up against Tokyo Olympic champion, Tunisia’s Ahmed Hafnaoui, and other promising swimmers.
Meanwhile, Jack – who will contest a few events in Doha – will be in action on Day One in Australia’s 4x100m freestyle relay – reigning world record holders and recent World champions.
Australia’s Head coach Rohan Taylor said his 15-strong group is ready to race and will aim for some fast swimming, making it an important event for the career progression of some of the younger swimmers.