Aussie swim coach Denis Cotterell cuts ties with Sun Yang in wake of ban
Australian swim coach Denis Cotterell, regarded as the world's best distance swim experts, has cut all ties with the Chinese Swimming Association despite having stuck by Sun Yang since the pair joined forces back in 2007.
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Disgraced Chinese swim star Sun Yang’s long-time Aussie coach has declared himself “retired” in the wake of the international doping scandal.
Denis Cotterell, regarded as the world’s best distance swim expert and a member of the Australian coaching Hall of Fame, has now cut all ties with the Chinese Swimming Association despite having stuck by Yang since joining forces back in 2007.
Cotterell has been one of Yang’s biggest defenders amid years of drug-related scandals involving the swimmer who last week copped an eight-year ban from the CSA, which has ruled him out of the Tokyo Olympics and will likely end his career.
Yang has vowed to appeal the ban.
However, Cotterell, who counts Grant Hackett, Michael Klim and Giaan Rooney among some of his success stories, said he does not support the appeal and will step away from the sport entirely.
“I have terminated my contract with (the) Chinese Swimming Association,” Cotterell said from his home on the Gold Coast this week. Asked if he supported Yang’s appeal, Cotterell replied firmly: “No.”
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It is a stunning about-face for the veteran coach who, as recently as last year's World Championships in Gwangju, maintained his support for the embattled Chinese star despite the fact many Australian and international swimmers staged protests and openly labelled him a drug cheat.
The most outspoken, Australia’s Mack Horton, famously refused to share the podium with Yang following the Chinese national’s win in the 400m freestyle final at the world championships last year.
At the time Cotterell labelled any suggestion that he would knowingly work with a drug cheat as an insult.
“I love working with an athlete who has paid their dues, has longevity and is still achieving,” Cotterell said at the time.
“If you think for a second I would be doing that with someone that is a cheat then people don’t know me. That is an insult.”
Originally published as Aussie swim coach Denis Cotterell cuts ties with Sun Yang in wake of ban