MIA: FINA’s silence is deafening as world watches in horror

As swimming continues to tear itself apart in front of the eyes of the world, FINA, the much-maligned governing body, has once again buried its head in the sand, writes JULIAN LINDEN.

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In the middle of the biggest crisis swimming has ever faced, the sport’s governing body FINA is once again nowhere to be seen.

While the normally family-friendly sport is tearing itself apart in front of the eyes of the world, FINA’s leadership has gone into hiding.

Apart from sending a handful of lame “warning letters” to the swimmers and federations that have been involved in the dramatic podium protests, no-one has heard a peep from FINA.

For anyone that is familiar with the way FINA rolls, that’s no surprise at all because they are the real villains.

“For me, Mack and Duncan are standing up to FINA to show we do believe in clean sport,” Australian backstroker Mitch Larkin said.

Mack Horton and Swimming Australia were warned for the protest. Picture: Getty

“We want to make sure every opportunity is taken to ensure it is clean. If we didn’t want clean sport, we wouldn’t be here every day racing.”

American backstroker Ryan Murphy echoed the same sentiments as to the root cause behind the swimmers’ anger.

“(It’s) not necessarily standing against Sun but more so standing against FINA and WADA for their response to these things,” Murphy said.

“It’s hard to theorise why they’ve made the decisions they have, it’s really hard to put down a concrete reason as to why.”

Sun Yang confronted Duncan Scott (R) on the podium. Picture: AP

Duncan Scott (R) refuses to be pictured with Sun Yang. Picture: AFP

Sun Yang (R) told Scott he was a “loser”. Picture: Getty

While Horton was warned for refusing to join Sun on the podium at the medal presentation after Sunday’s 400m freestyle final, Swimming Australia was also warned, for reasons that have not been explained.

Scott and Sun were also given warnings following their ugly exchange after the 200m medal presentation, when Sun raised his fists and told the Scotsman he was “a loser”.

But neither the British or the Chinese swimming federations received a reprimand and Scott wasn’t even aware that he’s been cautioned when he returned to the pool the next day.

“I got a warning after Sun Yang?” he asked reporters.

“I haven’t got a clue, I literally just swam, I know as much as you guys right now.”

Asked to elaborate on why swimmers are taking a stance against Sun and FINA, he said: “I’ve made my statement.”

Even those who support Sun say they want FINA to show some leadership.

Bhutan freestyle sprinter Sangay Tenzin said Sun is one of his heroes and he doesn’t like that he’s bearing the brunt of everyone’s frustrations.

“I think FINA should be strict in this, like in doping area,” he said.

“I think they should be strict in this because so many people, when they lose or don’t perform well, they shouldn’t be like that. You should accept losing.”