Swimming world championships 2019: Sun Yang explodes as Brit Duncan Scott stages another podium protest

British swimmer Duncan Scott stages another podium protest sparking fury from Sun Yang.

FINA has formally reprimanded both China’s Sun Yang and Briton Duncan Scott for “inadequate behaviour” at the victory ceremony for the men’s 200m freestyle at the world titles as swimming’s world governing body slowly realises it is facing outright rebellion from its elite athletes.

There was controversy enough immediately after the race when Sun was declared the winner because the first man to touch the wall, Danas Rapsys of Lithuania, moved on the blocks at the start of the race. Then Sun showed why he is largely despised by the swimming population at large, not just for his drug record but because of his general behaviour.

While Rapsys was still leaving the pool, angry and distraught, Sun mounted the lane ropes and began an exuberant celebration of his ‘victory’.

“When you are handed a win because of a disqualification, you don’t carry on, certainly not like that,” said a former Australian Olympian in the stands.

But that was nothing compared to what followed at the victory ceremony. Scott, who deadheated for the bronze with Russia’s Martin Malyutiun as a result of Rapsys’s ejection from the race, refused to shake Sun’s hand. He certainly stayed on the podium during the playing of the Chinese national anthem but he clearly kept his distance from Sun.

But as the athletes were leaving the ceremony, Sun broke ranks and retraced his steps to confront Scott. ““You loser, I am winning,” he appeared to say to the bemused Scot. There was much finger-pointing accompanying the verbal onslaught as Sun, for the first time, appeared rattled and hurt by the campaign being waged against him.

Britain's bronze medalist Duncan Scott, right, refuses to stand with gold medalist China's Sun Yang, second left, as silver winner Japan's Katsuhiro Matsumoto, left, and joint bronze medal winner Russia's Martin Malyutin pose on the podium following the men's 200m freestyle final.

FINA, which sent Mack Horton and Swimming Australia warning notes following his protest on Sunday night, wasted little time in issuing another statement. This time not only was the protester, Scott, reprimanded but also Sun for igniting what was already a tense situation.

FINA explained its reasons for sending warning letters to both parties. “Both competitors had an inadequate behaviour on this occasion, which is not acceptable in accordance with the FINA constitution rule C 12.1.3.”

Yet the warning letters are being seen as futile tinkering, which does nothing to address the prime concern: clean swimmers have become fed up with FINA’s total inaction and are starting to take measures into their own hands.

Sun gestures to Scott. Picture: AP

A pumped gold medalist Sun Yang (L) of China.

At this meet alone, in addition to Horton and Scott, Mitch Larkin, Cate Campbell, Lilly King, Italian Olympic 100m freestyle champion Gregorio Paltrinieri, Ryan Murphy and Peaty have come out in strong criticism at FINA’s failure to contain the problem.

It is possible that Sun has only a couple more weeks left in the sport, if the Court of Arbitration for Sport tribunal that is investigating the incident at which vials of blood samples taken from Sun were destroyed by a hammer wielded by a member of Sun’s entourage finds him guilty. In that event, he could be banned for life.

Without specifically mentioning the Sun case, that is precisely the penalty being called for by the Australian Swim Coaches and Teachers Association. “It is time for zero tolerance for drug cheats,” said ASCTA president Tony Shaw yesterday. “If someone is convicted for using performance-enhancing drugs, there should be a life ban. That is the policy of the International Swimming League and FINA should follow suit.”

Scott walks off during the podium ceremony. Picture: AFP

The escalating drugs drama again took the focus away from events in the pool where Australia is quietly putting together a solid world championships, winning seven medals on the first three days.

A breakthrough silver medal by 19-year-old Minna Atherton and a form-confirming bronze to Mitch Larkin in the women’s and men’s 100m backstroke were the high points of Australia’s night in the pool.

Atherton was just 0.25s behind defending world champion Kylie Masse of Canada, clocking 58.85s for the silver. “I did a PB yesterday …. I was a bit off that tonight but I was really happy to go under 59 seconds again.”

Larkin’s mum will be pleased with his bronze in the men’s backstroke final because it now gives him a world championship medal of every colour. “Mun always jokes that it’s nice to have a full set, so this one’s for you, Mum,” he said.

Sun reacts next to Australia's Clyde Lewis after the final. Picture: AFP

The first five placegetters all finished within 0.39s of each other but defending champion Jiayu Xu of China got to the wall first in 52.43s, just ahead of Russia’s Evgeny Rylov (52.67) and Larkin (52.77).

Clyde Lewis swam the first senior international final of his career in the 200m freestyle and led for half the race before fading to sixth, while Ariarne Titmus looks ready to complete the 200-400m freestyle double here after qualifying second fastest for tonight’s final.