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Jonathan White

China’s triple Olympic swimming champion Sun Yang will not be in Tokyo next month to defend the 200m crown he won at the Rio 2016 Games.
Despite being handed a reduced ban (four years and three months) by the Court of Arbitration for Sport on Tuesday, the censure rules him out of the delayed Tokyo 2020 Olympics and the Asian Games next year, which will be held in his hometown of Hangzhou.
So how did we get here, to the point where one of China’s greatest Olympians and most decorated swimmers in history is left in career limbo?
Here is a timeline of the whole saga, going back to the disputed doping test in September 2018 that has now seen Sun banned twice.


September 4, 2018 – The doping control company IDTM claim that Sun Yang “violently resisted the inspection” with allegations of damaged vials at an out-of-competition test at his home in Hangzhou.
On the night, Sun questioned the credentials of a member of the doping control team – they had been involved in another disputed test in 2017, where Sun had complained via official channels. The swimmer also claimed one of the doping control agents was recording video and taking photos of him – the panel would later agree that this was “highly improper and extremely unprofessional” behaviour.
Later, Chinese media claimed one of the doping control team was not qualified but a classmate of another member of the team. It was confirmed that only one of the three members of the team had the correct accreditation.
September 19, 2018 – Sun attends a Fina hearing. The swimmer is found to have done no wrong.
China’s star swimmer Sun Yang out of Tokyo Olympics after CAS ban
January 3, 2019 – A Fina report rules the September 2018 doping inspection was invalid and Sun Yang therefore had not committed any violations. An independent doping panel ruled that Sun had not violated any anti-doping rules, although they did call Sun “foolish” for allowing his sample to be smashed with a hammer. Fina stands by that decision in its report, dated January 3, 2019, which ruled that nothing taken was a “sample”, so Sun could not have breached the regulations.
January 27, 2019 – The Sunday Times reports that Sun faces a lifetime ban over a controversial out-of-competition test in September, 2018. The article is headlined “Olympic champion Sun Yang abuses drug testers”. Sun Yang’s lawyer says the swimmer is considering filing a lawsuit against The Sunday Times. The Chinese Swimming Association also slams the report, calling it “fake news”.


January 28, 2019 – ﻿Wada expresses its anger over Fina’s decision and considers a case with the CAS.
January 29, 2019 – Fina releases a statement saying it is aware of The Sunday Times report.
March 13, 2019 – ﻿Wada takes their appeal to CAS.
July 20, 2019 – ﻿Sun’s lawyers request a rare public hearing.
Stop judging Sun Yang; focus on broken system, lawyer says
July 21-28, 2019 – Sun stars at the World Aquatics Championships in Gwangju, South Korea, where he wins his fourth consecutive 400m free gold and another gold in the 200m free. However, the meet is marred by fellow athletes Mack Horton and Duncan Scott snubbing Sun in the medal ceremonies.
July 26, 2019 – Sun says he is “defending the rights of every athlete” and has not violated any rules.
August 20, 2019 – September hearing rescheduled for “personal reasons”, CAS announces.
October 14, 2019 – CAS confirm the hearing will take place in Montreux, Switzerland, on November 15, 2019.
November 15-16, 2019 – Sun’s hearing takes place at the Fairmont Hotel with members of the public in attendance and a live stream online. The panel says a result will be given in due course.
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February 27, 2020 – Cas announces the results of the hearing and the court’s will be announced on February 28.
February 28, 2020 –﻿ Sun is banned for eight years by CAS, effectively ending his career, after losing the hearing. This is also the date that Sun’s second ban is backdated to.
April 28, 2020 – Sun submits an appeal of the CAS verdict to the Swiss Federal Tribunal, the country’s highest court of appeal.
December 24, 2020 – The Swiss Federal Tribunal overturns the CAS ban.
Sun Yang missing from latest Olympic Team China swimming poster
January 1, 2021 – New Wada rules come into play and it is these that allow for Sun’s original ban of eight years to be reduced at the second hearing.
April 2, 2021 – CAS announces a new hearing will take place in May and a new panel has been created to hear the case.
May 17, 2021 – CAS confirms the panel will hear Sun’s case for a second time on May 25 in private.
Swim fans think new CAS ban will see Sun Yang miss Tokyo 2020
May 25-27, 2021 – The second hearing of the CAS takes place behind closed doors and by video link with a new panel from the original hearing of November, 2019. CAS announces the results will be released before the end of June.
June 22, 2021 – The Court of Arbitration announces its ruling on the second hearing of Wada vs Sun Yang and Fina, banning the swimmer until May 2024.
Sun Yang not at China Nationals but could still swim at Tokyo 2020
September 10, 2022 – The 2022 Asian Games begin in Sun’s hometown of Hangzhou, Zhejiang province.
May 28, 2024 – Sun’s 51-month ban, backdated to February 28, 2020, expires, freeing him up to swim.
July 26, 2024 –﻿ The Paris Olympics begin and the big question will be whether Sun, 33 by the time the Games open, will be there.


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China’s Sun Yang with his gold medal after winning the 200m freestyle at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Photo: AFP

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Sun Yang readies himself for the 800m freestyle at the 2019 World Championships in South Korea. Photo: AFP

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Chinese swimmer Fu Yuanhui at a race in 2018, carrying a left shoulder injury. Photo: Xinhua

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Australia’s Mack Horton refuses to share the podium with Sun Yang for the men’s 400m freestyle medal ceremony at the 2019 world championships. Photo: AP

FILE - In this Tuesday, July 23, 2019 file photo, gold medalist China's Sun Yang, centre, gestures to Britain's bronze medalists Duncan Scott, left, following the medal ceremony in the men's 200m freestyle final at the World Swimming Championships in Gwangju, South Korea. Chinese swimmer Sun Yang has been banned for eight years for breaking anti-doping rules and will miss the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. (AP Photo/Mark Schiefelbein, File)

epa07335085 Canadian Olympian Nikki Dryden speaks at a rally to demand freedom for detained Bahraini footballer Hakeem Al-Araibi in Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 01 February 2019. Bahraini soccer player with Australian refugee status Hakeem Al-Araibi is currently detained in Thailand since last December. EPA-EFE/JOEL CARRETT AUSTRALIA AND NEW ZEALAND OUT

Franco Frattini chairs the CAS hearing on Sun Yang in February, 2020.

(191116) -- MONTREUX, Nov. 16, 2019 (Xinhua) -- Chinese three-time Olympic swimming champion Sun Yang (2nd L) and his lawyers attend a public hearing in the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Montreux, Switzerland, on Nov. 15, 2019, as the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) appealed against Sun Yang and FINA over FINA's previous decision in favor of Sun on his alleged anti-doping rule violations. (Photo by Alain Grosclaude/Xinhua)

(FILES) In this file photo taken on August 09, 2016 China's Sun Yang poses with his gold medal on the podium after he won the Men's 200m Freestyle Final during the swimming event at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games at the Olympic Aquatics Stadium in Rio de Janeiro on August 8, 2016. (Photo by GABRIEL BOUYS / AFP)

Tokyo 2020: Sun Yang not at China Nationals but could still swim at Olympic Games

China's Sun Yang poses with his gold medal on the podium after he won the men's 200m freestyle final at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games. Photo: AFP

(FILES) In this file photo taken on November 15, 2019 China's swimming star Sun Yang (C), accused of smashing a blood vial with a hammer, looks on between his counsels Ian Meaking (L) and Luo Xiaoshuang prior to his public hearing before the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in Montreux. - Switzerland's top court on December 24, 2020 has overturned an eight-year doping ban on Chinese swimmer Sun Yang imposed by the Court of Arbitration of Sport in February. The decision comes seven months before the Tokyo Olympics and is welcome news for the triple Olympic champion who is accused of destroying a sample with a hammer when collectors visited his home in September 2018. (Photo by jean-guy PYTHON / AFP)

Tokyo 2020: Sun Yang CAS hearing to be held in private

China’s swimming star Sun Yang at his public hearing before the Court of Arbitration for Sport in November 2019. Photo: AFP

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