FINA threatens to strip medals and ban swimmers who protest on podiums

Swimming’s governing body has emphatically ruled against the podium protests that have plagued its world championships.

Swimmers are at risk of losing a medal or copping a ban if they repeat a podium protest that has plagued China’s Sun Yang at the world swimming titles in South Korea.

World body FINA have reportedly ushered in a new Code of Conduct provision entitled “rules of conduct during the competition” in the fallout over Sun being snubbed at two medal ceremonies at Gwangju to date.

It confirms that athletes can receive a ban or lose their medal if they indulge in “any political, religious or discriminatory statement or behaviour” at the podium.

Every national swimming federation president and secretary-general was issued the new edict by FINA at 9.46pm on Tuesday, according to The Australian. That was barely an hour after Briton Duncan Scott followed Australian Mack Horton’s lead and failed to acknowledge Sun at the 200m freestyle medal ceremony, sparking ugly scenes.

Sun gesticulated wildly at Scott post-ceremony, with TV cameras capturing the 11-time world champ saying: “You’re a loser; I’m winning.” Both Scott and Sun were issued with warnings from FINA for “inadequate behaviour”.

Olympic champion Horton lit the fuse for the world titles controversy when he refused to share a podium with Sun after the Chinese champion relegated him to 400m silver on Sunday night.

Mack Horton refuses to stand on the podium with gold medallist China's Sun Yang and bronze medallist Italy's Gabriele Detti. (Photo by Ed JONES / AFP)

Swimmers are livid that Sun has been allowed to compete with a September Court of Arbitration for Sport hearing looming that may end the Chinese star’s career. Sun has been accused of destroying vials of his blood with a hammer during a clash with testers last year.

Sun — who served a 2014 doping ban — faces a lifetime suspension if found guilty.

However if swimmers vent their frustration again at the world titles podium they face sanction under FINA’s new clause.

“The competitors shall actively participate in the full conduct of the competition including victory ceremonies and, if applicable, presentations and or press conferences,” the clause reportedly reads.

“They shall strictly avoid any offensive or improper behaviour towards the officials, the other competitors, the team members and/or the spectators during the entire conduct of the competition. Any political, religious or discriminatory statement or behaviour is strictly prohibited.”

The stage was set for more drama in Wednesday’s 800m freestyle final but a potential incident was averted when Sun missed the podium, finishing sixth.

Scott made no apologies about his podium snub on Wednesday, even joking that he was glad that the dispute did not get physical with the towering Sun, saying he had “a wee bit of size on me”.

Mack Horton looks on after the men's 800m freestyle heats. (Photo by Clive Rose/Getty Images)

Meanwhile, Sun’s coach — Australian Denis Cotterell — has defended his charge after the podium protest furore.

“I am happy to be working with him,” he told The Australian. “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.”