The podium is no stranger to athletes taking a stand in protest.
The 1968 ‘black power’ salute was the most famous of them all, with Australian silver medallist Peter Norman wearing a civil rights badge in solidarity.
Norman’s action was met with a mixed response at the time. Ultimately though, he was vindicated and even celebrated.
Mack Horton recently decided to take a stand against doping by not using the podium, which has divided opinion.
His actions are no doubt a result of not just his overall feelings about doping in sport but his frustration at how it’s affected his personal achievements.
That should not take away the merit or credibility of his stance.
I applaud and admire what was really a measured and controlled form of protest. Like the ‘black power’ salute, it was passive but had maximum impact.
However, there have been claims of ungraciousness and disrespect, including from Australian Richard Ings, who is the former ASADA chief executive. Via Twitter, Ings said he was “no fan of Sun Yang”, but went on to write that the Chinese swimmer is innocent until proven guilty and that “Not standing on the podium with him should attract a hefty penalty”.
Ings’ statement that FINA cleared Yang is correct. Yet, his wish that Horton should be penalised demonstrates a clear chasm between administrators and the expectations of clean athletes.
Much like in a society where criminals are freed after serving sentences determined by judges within the confines of legislative limitations, the public is not always satisfied. There is often frustration, born of fear of reoffence, that the punishment did not fit the crime, or in sentencing inconsistencies.
The world of sport and doping are no different. Penalties need to be tougher and more consistent, regardless of the sport.
In 2014, Yang was banned for three months by Chinese Swimming for testing positive to trimetazidine at their nationals, a stimulant which Yang claims was prescribed for heart palpitations.
The ban was not reported to WADA until after it was served. Nonetheless, WADA still had the right to appeal but chose not to proceed.
Perceptions that Yang was protected by a soft-handed association are hard to refute. Compare that to the International Tennis Federation’s 15-month ban for Maria Sharapova in a comparable case.
Thankfully in Sharapova’s case, the ITF was there to protect the integrity of the tennis.
AAP Image/Lukas Coch
Perhaps more frustrating is that Yang has an ongoing case, wherein he actively inhibited a doping test at his home and even smashed vials of his drawn blood. His arguments were technical and, for most, unsatisfactory. The frustrations of athletes such as Horton are more than understandable.
FINA issued a warning and allowed Yang to compete at the World Championships, despite WADA this time electing to take the case to the courts as they want a more severe punishment. However, the court case isn’t scheduled until September this year, allowing Yang to compete in South Korea.
For Horton, who does the correct thing in terms of training, competing and behaving inside the parameters of regulatory requirements, his actions are both justifiable and brave.
I hope all principled athletes, viewers and administrators support Horton and request reform. To not would be to support the unacceptable status quo.
Yang’s mere presence at the swim meet underscores an issue with international swimming regarding doping controls and sanctions, remembering that non-compliance with testers is a doping violation in itself.
FINA and to an extent WADA have brought this on themselves.
Mack Horton’s defiance should not only be viewed in protest of cheating but the international sporting bodies and doping agencies who fail to protect clean athletes.
paulywalnuts
Guest
Holmes has a point. Drug testers and policy makers hold people's careers and livelihoods in their hands. They need to scrupulously adhere to correct procedure and protocol. Sounds like they really cocked this one up. Not good enough. Silly to destroy the vials but if that sequence of events is correct, the athlete gets the benefit of the doubt imo.
Brendon
Roar Rookie
Obviously you have no idea on how these things work. Horton came second to Jack McLoughlin in the 400m freestyle at the trials. He didn't meet Swimming Australia automatic qualifying time of 3:46.14 finishing 3:46.47. Since Horton was already on the 4x200m team Swimming Australia decided to send Horton anyway. That automatic qualifying time of 3:46.14 was set by Swimming Australia - not FINA. It is an arbitrary time set by Swimming Australia where if you finish in the top 2 and beat the qualifying time you are automatically on the team. If you don't beat the time and you finish in the top 2 its up to Swimming Australia if you go to the world championships. Basically you have no idea what you're talking about.
Tander
Guest
Brendon...Horton was not fast enough to make the team just 3 weeks before the championships took place...he failed to qualify......Then just 3 weeks later is fast enough to win a silver?....that in itself seems very sus....What did he do in just 3 weeks to go from not good enough to qualify....get a invititaion to compete...then improve so much....Mmmmm
no one in particular
Roar Guru
when faced with an uncomfortable truth the natural reaction is to attack the messenger
no one in particular
Roar Guru
Her article provided facts. Nothing else on this page has
no one in particular
Roar Guru
yeh..nah Procedure wasn't followed. Anything past that is inconsequential. Any ruling against him would be ruled ineligible immediately once tested in any hearing
Brendon
Roar Rookie
That was my reaction as soon as I saw Tracey Holmes' name. I like her last paragraph:"To be called a drug cheat is sport's worst slur. If the public is to have faith in athletes, then athletes need to be able to have faith in the system that tests them. There is still another chapter to play out in the case of Sun — in the pool and out — but what we know right now is that an independent investigation found the swimmer hasn't failed a drug test, and that the anti-doping system has failed him." Nowhere in the article does she mention that Sun has already served a suspension for taking banned substances. A suspension where the Chinese swimming authorities didn't even notify FINA. That whole thing was suspicious. Holmes seems to be unaware of Sun's past. Just another reason the ABC is just as bad and useless as the Murdoch media. In many ways worse.
Brendon
Roar Rookie
Firstly Sun wont be banned. When the story broke months ago I knew straight away he was going to be cleared. Too much $$ is at stake here for FINA and the IOC. China is so important to the IOC as China is one of the few major markets, along with the US, where the Olympics are bigger than the football world cup. Even if by some miracle Sun is banned then FINA would have already pocketed the $. Pretty simple.
Brendon
Roar Rookie
I don't see what cricket has to do with swimming. The actions of Australian cricket players has no bearing on Horton's actions. As for who are we? Well, Mack Horton is an Olympic gold medallist and quite a good swimmer and I'm guessing he and fellow swimmer Duncan Scott know a lot more about whats going on than you do. Lets face it, bodies like FINA, IOC, IAAF and in football FIFA haven't exactly covered themselves in glory over the years. If the main point of your comment is that we should trust FINA because they're an honest and capable body then I'm afraid your comment isn't going to convince many people. I would like to point out no one has any issues with fellow Chinese swimmer Xu Jiayu winning gold.
Brendon
Roar Rookie
Sounds like you're repeating BS from Yang's camp. Apparently one of the nurses wasn't accredited to operate in the province Sun was in. Big effing deal. They did not lack "authorisation" and there is no evidence their conduct was "suspicious" other than Sun's claims which are obviously biased. Even if the vials were taken incorrectly its not up to the athlete to destroy them but for FINA and WADA to handle and dispose of the samples and take new ones. But ask yourself this simple question: If a swimmer from South Africa or Estonia had done this do you think they would have got away from it?
Ad-O
Guest
Yeah, I'm generally against "hard line" stances because they are reactionary, lack nuance, and offer simple solutions to complex problems. I dont find them to be strong at all because it's usually the relevant authority caving in to the loudest voice. Nothing to be proud of IMHO.
Davico
Roar Pro
An opinion piece from Tracey Holmes?? Really?? If anything she has proved over the last few years that she is not averse to making up nonsense to suit her agendas and try to be relevant as a sports columnist.
Nick
Roar Guru
Yeah...nah Yes, Sun Yang is allowed to swim on a technicality, but FINA also had recourse to suspend. They did not have to accept the finding of the tribunal. It is merely a recommendation. The technicality is not necessarily a deal-breaker, as WADA is planning on arguing. The fact that FINA chose the easiest way out was to appease it's primary source of TV revenue. If he had nothing to hide, then there was absolutely no reason to smash the vials. Additionally, a bit of caution regarding Tracey Holmes' journalism these days. I was living in China at the same time, each time she was. Watching her become more and more 'absorbed' into the media system there was striking. She became a walking mouthpiece of the glory of Chinese sport. She may ultimately be correct, but don't be fooled by her attempts to be objective. She is astonishingly pro-Beijing on things. Her rights to be of course, but just an observation that is important.
Rabbitz
Roar Guru
A couple of years ago, just after the farce of the Sochi Winter Olympics a similar situation arose when some federations, the International Biathlon Union (IBU) in particular failed to act on the Russian doping. This failure to act was in direct conflict with WADA and in the light of actions by the Athletics Federation and several others. It fell to the athletes to act. Fortunately, Martin Fourcade (at the time the World's number one biathlete and most marketable male competitor) led the charge against the Russian
drug cheatserr "competitors". There were a number of World Cup medal presentations and press conferences where the tension was palpable with the Russians being pretty much given the cold shoulder by all and sundry. As the IBU continued to keep it's head buried in the sand things deteriorated. In the end Fourcade as a competitors representative met with the IBU and explained if the Russians were not sanctioned and if the IBU did not clean up it's act and join the 21st Century, then the top flight cohort of biathletes would sit out the season. This triggered internal ructions which saw much change in the IBU board and structures and the sudden retirement of a large number of Russian competitors. I hope the actions of Horton and Scott trigger a similar effect in FINA.no one in particular
Roar Guru
shhh, we don't let the facts get in the way when we act holier then thou
no one in particular
Roar Guru
a poor attempt to create a conspiracy theory. However, the facts are Yang has done noting wrong https://www.abc.net.au/news/2019-07-21/sun-yang-doping-case-more-complicated-than-it-seems/11328364
jamesb
Roar Guru
Yep, what you have articulated, many would be thinking along those lines. But it is bizarre from FINA to allow him to compete. He is potentially facing a life ban. Anyway, money talks.
Goalsonly
Roar Rookie
Sun Yang must be aware of the issue and how it all looks and respect how those guys must be feeling. I mean... is he going to lead or play a part in the crusade himself? Is it something he can get his head around? Does he have public comments on the importance of clean sport? It's an opportunity for him, maybe a fresh start. He's not alone in being compulsive about 'WINNING' which is mostly a feeling anyway. Anyway ... his outburst (which was the low point) kind of blew my perception of China and emotional intelligence. I trust it was a one off.
Nick
Roar Guru
I don’t understand why FINA didn’t stand down Yang? Cause he's Chinese. The swimming might be blacked out from Australian TVs, but because of the timezones, it's prime time viewing on CCTV5 in China. FINA needed the TV money and ratings from China much more than the US in this instance. Sun Yang is by far their most bankable swimmer. Shameful, but that's why.
GaiusBaltar68
Roar Rookie
Agree that there are a bucket load of problems with this. I guess that's why it's off to CAS for sorting out. I'm rather conflicted by the whole thing. My kids were swimmers and swam against some who have been in the Australian national team. I know first hand what those top end swimmers do to get there (not my kids, but I've seen the effort and dedication required). I'm also a lawyer by trade, so following a process is just a basic requirement and I completely fail to understand how it can be messed up.