Mack Horton and Swimming Australia will receive a warning from world body FINA over a podium protest after Sun Yang’s 400m freestyle victory in South Korea.
Swimming Australia and Mack Horton will receive an official warning from FINA after the Olympic champion sensationally protested controversial Chinese star Sun Yang’s 400m freestyle win at the world swimming titles.
Swimming Australia was confident Horton would escape sanction after refusing to shake hands with Sun and not joining his bitter rival on the podium on the titles’ opening night at Gwangju, South Korea on Sunday.
However, FINA released a statement on Monday night that confirmed not only Horton but also the national body would receive a warning letter despite Swimming Australia claiming it had no prior knowledge of his protest.
“The FINA executive met today in Gwangju to analyse the situation related with the men’s 400m free victory ceremony and has decided to send a warning letter to Swimming Australia and to Mack Horton,” the statement said.
“While FINA respects the principle of freedom of speech, it has to be conducted in the right context.
“As in all major sports organisations, our athletes and their entourages are aware of their responsibilities to respect FINA regulations and not use FINA events to make personal statements or gestures.
“The matter over which Mack Horton was allegedly protesting is currently under review by CAS and therefore it is not appropriate for FINA to prejudice this hearing by commenting further.”
Horton snubbed Sun, who served a 2014 doping ban, after the triple Olympic champion was allowed to compete ahead of a Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) hearing in September that may end the Chinese star’s career.
The 10-time world champion has been accused of smashing vials of his blood with a hammer during a clash last year with testers and faces a lifetime ban if found guilty.
Horton’s actions polarised the public but American breaststroke champion Lilly King revealed the Australian received a standing ovation at the athletes’ village for refusing to acknowledge Sun on Sunday night.
“We were kind of waiting around for that awards ceremony to see what was going to happen and yeah it was awesome,” two-time Olympic gold medallist King said.
“When we walked into the dining hall, he walked in after us and like the whole dining hall erupted in applause so it was pretty great to see the athletes united on his stance and supporting him as well.
“I don’t think anyone at FINA’s going to stand up for the athletes so the athletes have to stand up for themselves.”
Sun – who claimed a fourth straight 400m world title – wasn’t so impressed, saying Horton’s stance was disrespectful to China.
“It was unfortunate because disrespecting me is okay but disrespecting China was very unfortunate and I felt sorry about that,” he said.
The Australian team supported Horton’s stance but claimed they had no prior knowledge of the protest.
“That was his idea to do that. But let’s put it this way, I understand him very much,” Dolphins head coach Jacco Verhaeren said.
Teammate Mitch Larkin said “99 per cent” of athletes at Gwangju backed Horton’s Sun snub.
“We are all fighting for a clean sport,” he said.
Horton’s bitter rivalry erupted at the Rio Olympics when he dismissed Sun as a “drug cheat” before upsetting the Chinese star to claim a shock 400m freestyle gold.
Hang on
Guest
Do you have any issues with "the better swimmer" doing what he did? Does a clean sport matter to you? Even if the Aussies are sooks, should they just lie down like dogs and accept this?
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
One of Australia's true great sporting people, a legend in fact. And a nice person. Yes, I've seen that interview. Magnanimous.
Boo
Guest
Good comment Rowdy.The great Raelene Boyle who is all class ,saw her interviewed on TV and she expressed sympathy for the athletes who went through the East German programme at the time.
Boo
Guest
Like that old saying action.speaks louder than words.He has been.warned so unless he does something else it is OK.Drug taking in sport just can't be assessed.from.a winner v loser perspective.the health ramifications are paramount.How many athletes who are way off the pace take drugs to give themselves.a chance and are still not good enough and then in obscurity live with the effects of doping.
Ad-O
Guest
No. We dont need to apologise to anyone. But neither do we have to behave like sanctimonious brats or the self appointed arbiters of what is morally permissible and what is not.
peter chrisp
Guest
The thing that cracked me up, their swimmer admitted to his wrong doing. And Mack stood up for what he thought was the right decision, & now we see China carrying on like a crybaby. Have you also noticed many many Chinese online via twitter have "castrated" his actions. Do we Aussie's have to apologize to the i think it's called "The People's Public Of China? Who gives a toss, do we have to get down on our knees & say sorry.
Ad-O
Guest
The level of sanctimony from an Australian exactly the same as sandpaper-gate. I'll give u that.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Its funny that Sun said he wasn't offended but that his homeland would be. Yes China in most sports is like India is in cricket. These spoilt brats are still wearing nappies at 14 years old.
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
Ha ha. As long as they don't touch my cab sav when it does come to wine.
Pope Paul VII
Roar Rookie
He took Freddy Titmus's moment in the sun after she inflicted Ludecke's first ever defeat. I agree with his concern but not his method.
Pope Paul VII
Roar Rookie
As a proud South Aussie Rowdy I'm shocked at you using chardy as an insult?
Simoc
Guest
Horton is pathetic. A cowardly loser at best. Beaten by a better swimmer and wimps out at the ceremony like the pathetic person he is. Hopefully sponsors will desert the Australian swimming team. They are so up themselves and are a national embarrassment. All they fail to do is win gold medals at the Olympics on the World stage. They are the supreme prima donnas, minus the ability to win. Give tax payers money to better people.
13th Man
Guest
Ridiculous. May be FINA should punish Sun Yang not Horton who is just making a stand for clean racing.
Aussieinexile
Roar Rookie
A bit of hypocrisy from Horton. I don't see him condemning his fellow swimmers who were banned for 1 year. He has a history with Sun that goes way back. We are not Lilly white. Sorry if his going to protest why doesn't he protest about the inclusion of certain Australian Swimmers currently in the team. As the old say goes People in glass houses.....
Brendon
Roar Rookie
It's not that simple. For the world champs FINA can run things their way but what about the Olympics? The IOC run the Olympics, not the FINA. What if the IOC no longer recognises FINA as the bosses of swimming? But why should swimmers who aren't big name swimmers from China face a different set of rules? That is contradictory to FINA's own rules. If FINA is going to make exceptions for big name Chinese swimmers then they should change their rules to reflect that.
Brendon
Roar Rookie
The Ashes comparison is ridiculous. Cricket Australia is the only national governing body to ever punish their own players for ball tampering. Faf du Plessis is a two time convicted ball tampering cheat who has not been banned from 1 day of cricket. Warner, Smith and Bancroft's punishment was unprecedented in the history of cricket. The only people who think it was inadequate are the clueless masses who have no idea. The ICC banned the trio for the 4th test against South Africa and that is all the punishment they should have received besides fines. There is no requirement in international cricket for national governing bodies to handle punishments - that's the ICC's job. I mean what other cricketing body other than the idiots at Cricket Australia would ban their own players for 12 months? Your argument might be analogous if it was 3 Indian players who got caught, lets pretend Kohli, Pujara and a youngster and they got no ban at all, not even a 1 test suspension from the ICC and then England decided to protest by not appearing with India at a post-match presentation. Because that's what this situation is - competitors from large and powerful country in that sport getting different treatment. No other swimmer from any other country would have got away with what Sun has. Just like the BCCI is bigger and more powerful and controls the ICC, Sun and Chinese swimming is bigger and more powerful than FINA. Both the Indian cricket team and Sun face a different set of rules in their respective sports than athletes from other countries in those sports.
Tander
Guest
Val your post is a part of the problem......It has been reported that he broke the vials after asking for identification from those asking for the tests and they were unable to provide the correct ID.....i think the guy is probably dodgy but proof is a wonderful thing...as is the truth as to why he smashed the vials which he had already provided samples in....i dont know the facts but I dont believe you do either so I believe the case should run its course before people like Horton do his protests...Its odd that Horton has only ever protested this particular individual from my POV as if he was a real advocate for this cause wouldnt he be protesting all possible drug takers?.......I think Horton needs to asses what lawyers may make of his statements....
Rowdy
Roar Rookie
I agree with both of you guys....if we had a governing body that did effective things. The governing body are the leaders, non? Well let them lead. This is what happens when leaders don't lead. They're the rule makers. Let them enforce their OWN rules. Rules will always want to come out. It's been near 50 years and nothing was done for Raelene Boyle. How is that acceptable? Don't get me started on what I really think.
Tander
Guest
Spot on Supersud...The Chinese swimmer may be the doggiest swimmer in the world but its not Hortons place to do any form of public protest at all and what he did could very easily be seen as bringing the game into disrepute....He deserves a sanction just as much as SUN does...Both appear to be breaking the rules of the sport.....Horton didnt even qualify for this tournament yet when handed a wild card position he comes second?.....That in itself could easily have others throwing accusations of drug taking to achieve such an improvement in such a short time...Then he fails to make the finals in his next event....he has put himself in the spotlight and should be careful about what that spotlight may bring...Go thru the right channels by all means.....
Val Saunders
Guest
Horton deserves our full support in his actions. At the end of the day it just highlights the weakness of the authorities that Sun was let off smashing the vials. The reason put forward - he was angry at being tested out of competition - exactly the time when drugs may be taken. He should be banned just for that action alone. Good on you Horton!!