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Agence France-Presse

Australian swimmer Mack Horton has been warned by FINA after he snubbed his Chinese rival Sun Yang on the podium after the world 400m freestyle final.
Horton, who took silver behind Sun at the weekend, refused to step onto the top step of the podium for photos after the medal ceremony in Gwangju, as doping allegations swirl around Sun.
The Australian’s protest reignited their row at the 2016 Rio Olympics, where Horton labelled Sun a “drug cheat” over a prior doping ban before pipping him to gold.
It also angered Sun, who accused Horton of “disrespecting China,” and triggered a backlash on social media with the Aussie’s Instagram was trolled by Chinese users, some even posting death threats against Horton and his family.

“The FINA executive ... has decided to send a warning letter to Swimming Australia and to Mack Horton,” said a statement from swimming’s governing body.
“While FINA respects the principle of freedom of speech, it has to be conducted in the right context.
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
FINA statement
“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,” it added.
Sun, who has always protested his innocence over the three-month suspension he served in 2014, is again competing under a doping cloud after a leaked FINA doping panel report alleged he smashed blood samples with a hammer after being visited by testers last year.

FINA cleared Sun to take part in the world championships, but the World Anti-Doping Agency has appealed the decision to the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS).
“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,” the FINA statement said.
After the pair’s war of words in Rio, China’s state-run media called Australia a “second-class citizen” of the West and accused it of “white supremacy”.
The China Daily weighed in on their latest run-in, saying Horton had “humiliated himself” with his protest.

“Needless to say such moves are rather rude and lack the most basic manners,” it added in a commentary.
“Not joining Sun on the podium was not a protest, but an insult.”
Horton was also beaten by Sun at the 2017 world championships in Budapest.
Hong Kong’s Siobhan Haughey finishes second in first heat of 200m freestyle, advancing to semi-finals
Swimming Australia voiced its support of Horton on Tuesday in reaction to the FINA warning.
“Swimming Australia respects the position Mack Horton took during the medal ceremony and understands his sense of frustration,” said CEO Leigh Russell.
“We are very proud of our Dolphins’ performances in Gwangju so far and want to allow them to focus on their racing for the remainder of the meet.”


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Sun Yang

Mack Horton warned by FINA over Sun Yang podium protest at swimming world championships

Silver medallist Mack Horton of Australia (left) refused to stand on the podium with gold medallist Sun Yang of China on Sunday. Photo: AFP

China's Sun Yang is interviewed following his heat of the men's 800m freestyle at the World Swimming Championships in Gwangju, South Korea, Tuesday, July 23, 2019. (AP Photo/Lee Jin-man)

Italy's Gabriele Detti (L), China's Sun Yang (C) and Italy's Gregorio Paltrinieri (R) react after a heat for the men's 800m freestyle event during the swimming competition at the 2019 World Championships at Nambu University Municipal Aquatics Center in Gwangju, South Korea, on July 23, 2019. (Photo by Ed JONES / AFP)

epaselect epa07731520 (L-R) Second placed Mack Horton of Australia keeps his distance to winner Yang Sun of China while they pose with their medals for photographers after competing in the men's 400m Freestyle Final during the Swimming events at the Gwangju 2019 FINA World Championships, Gwangju, South Korea, 21 July 2019. Gabriele Detti of Italy finishes third. EPA-EFE/PATRICK B. KRAEMER

Sun Yang breezes 200m semi-final as fallout from feud with Mack Horton continues

Sun Yang of China gets ready before the men's 200m freestyle heats at the Gwangju 2019 Fina World Championships. Photo: Xinhua

(190722) -- GWANGJU, July 22, 2019 (Xinhua) -- Supporters of China's Sun Yang cheer for him during the men's 200m freestyle preliminary at the Gwangju 2019 FINA World Championships in Gwangju, South Korea, July 22, 2019. (Xinhua/Li Gang)

Who is Sun Yang’s arch rival Mack Horton, the Australian swimmer who refused to stand beside China’s world champion?

Australia's Mack Horton’s feud with China’s Sun Yang added another chapter to its story yesterday as the two Olympic gold medalists traded barbs after Horton refused to take the podium with his counterpart. Photo: AFP

PICTURE TAKEN WITH AN UNDERWATER CAMERA - Australian Mack Horton competes in the preliminary heats of the men's 800m freestyle swimming event at the 2015 FINA World Championships in Kazan on August 4, 2015. AFP PHOTO / FRANCOIS XAVIER MARIT

Mack Horton twitter

Sport

China

Australian refused to stand alongside Chinese swimmer
Horton would not be pictured with new world champion


The Australian refused to stand alongside or would not be pictured with new world champion Sun.


World Aquatics Championships 2019

Mack Horton warned by FINA over Sun Yang podium protest at swimming world championships

Australian refused to stand alongside Chinese swimmer Horton would not be pictured with new world champion

Australian refused to stand alongside Chinese swimmer

Horton would not be pictured with new world champion