"You're a loser, I'm a winner": Sun Yang lashes out after second podium snub
British swimmer Duncan Scott has become the latest athlete to protest against Chinese swim star Sun Yang at the world championships in Gwangju, South Korea.
Sun, who is competing despite his upcoming hearing on a doping case against him in September, won the gold medal in the men’s 200 metre freestyle event after first finisher Lithuanian Danas Rapsys was disqualified for moving on the starting blocks.
During the medal presentation, Scott congratulated silver medallist Katsuhiro Matsumoto of Japan and fellow bronze medallist Martin Malyutin of Russia, but snubbed Sun.
The Chinese swimmer appeared to be shouting and gesturing towards Scott, who also refused to join in for a group photo.
“You’re a loser, I’m a winner,” Sun appeared to yell at Scott as they walked off the podium.
In response to the incident, swimming’s governing body FINA reprimanded both Sun and Scott for “inadequate behaviour”.
Scott’s protest comes days after Australian swimmer Mack Horton refused to share a podium with Sun on the 400 metre freestyle medal presentation over his views that Sun is a ”drug cheat”. Horton and Swimming Australia were also sent warning letters for this action.
When asked why he refused to pose for pictures with his Chinese rival, Horton said, “I don’t think I need to say anything … His actions and how it has been handled speaks louder than anything I could say.”
Sun, who was suspended for doping in 2014, was cleared to participate in the world championships after a FINA panel concluded that the Chinese Olympic swimmer did not violate any anti-doping rules following reports that his team destroyed blood sample vials for drug testing with a hammer last September.
The World Anti-Doping Agency is looking to appeal the finding to the Court of Arbitration for Sport in September. Sun could face a lifetime ban if he is found guilty.
Scott said he was “Team Mack” when reporters asked him about the podium standoff.
“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.
“If [Sun] can’t respect our sport, then why should I respect him? Hopefully this will happen in more events.”
Sun maintained that he did not cheat his way to triumph.
“My victory was because of my hard work,” the 27-year-old said. “I continued to keep fighting, I didn’t give up when I was in second place.”