Explainer | Sun Yang: why is China’s star swimmer missing Tokyo 2020 Olympics?
- Triple Olympic champion banned until May 2024 following contested doping test in September 2018, with many twists along the way
- Swimming superstar had 2019’s eight-year ban overturned but is set to miss Tokyo 2020 Games and next year’s Asian Games

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.

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China’s swim star Sun Yang to miss Tokyo Olympics despite doping-ban reduction
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.