2019 FINA WORLD AQUATICS CHAMPIONSHIPS
- All sports: Friday, July 12 – Sunday, July 28, 2019
- Pool swimming: Sunday, July 21 – Sunday, July 28, 2019
- The Nambu University Municipal Aquatics Center, Gwangju, Korea
- Meet site
- Competition Schedule
- FinaTV Live Stream
- Entry Lists
- Results
Following their interaction on the podium after the men’s 200 free ceremony at the 2019 FINA World Championships Tuesday night in Gwangju, FINA has sent “warning letters” to both gold medalist Sun Yang and bronze medalist Duncan Scott.
“The FINA Executive met today in Gwangju (KOR) to analyse the situation occurred during the men’s 200m free victory ceremony and has decided to send a warning letter to athletes Duncan Scott (GBR) and Sun Yang (CHN),” FINA’s statment read. “Both competitors had an inadequate behaviour on this occasion, which is not acceptable in accordance with the FINA Constitution Rule C 12.1.3.”
Constitution rule 12.1.3 reads that “Any Member, member of a Member, or individual member of a Member may be sanctioned for bringing the sport into disrepute.” Possible sanctions appear to begin with a warning, then another offense would lead to a fine, then another a suspension, and then another “expulsion.”
Sun (1:44.93), facing an upcoming CAS hearing in September regarding the World Anti-Doping Agency’s appeal case against FINA’s decision not to sanction him over his blood vial-smashing incident last September, was awarded gold after initial winner Danas Rapsys was shockingly DQ’d after the race. Japan’s Katsuhiro Matsumoto took silver in 1:45.22, and Scott and Martin Malyutin of Russia ended up tying for the bronze in 1:45.63.
Great Britain’s Scott followed the model set by Australian Mack Horton earlier in the meet, protesting Sun on the podium of the men’s 200 free. Unlike Horton, the 22-year-old Scott did get on the podium for the playing of the Chinese anthem. But Scott then refused to shake Sun’s hand and partake in a group picture with all the medalists after the podium ceremony.
Things appeared to get heated around the handshake incident:
Sun Yang sale sul podio e insulta il britannico Duncan Scott, giunto 3°, reo di non avergli stretto la mano! Fino a quando il nuoto dovrà sorbirsi le bizze di questo pazzo? pic.twitter.com/PohjLPQFVk
— Giorgio Spalluto (@GeorgeSpalluto) July 23, 2019
Duncan Scott the latest athlete to protest Sun Yang’s presence at the #WorldChamps. Refuses to join him on top of the podium. pic.twitter.com/QvMvcfHT4T
— Veronica Eggleton (@veggleton) July 23, 2019
Scott reportedly received a standing ovation from other athletes.
Sun was visibly unhappy with Scott’s actions and appeared to confront him further off the podium. From the broadcast, it looked as though Sun approached Scott and said something along the lines of, “You’re a loser. I’m a winner.” Watch the interaction below:
Sun Yang gets in bronze medalist Duncan Scott's face after the 200m freestyle medal ceremony (Sun won gold after Lithuanian Danas Rapsys was DQed for a false start). Scott and Sun did not appear to shake hands, and Sun shouted in Scott's direction earlier in the ceremony. pic.twitter.com/0ilhiSorqt
— Nick Zaccardi (@nzaccardi) July 23, 2019
Sun Yang to Duncan Scott: "You're a loser. I'm a winner." pic.twitter.com/W1AhD6XekV
— Nick Zaccardi (@nzaccardi) July 23, 2019
The 23-year-old Horton also received a “warning letter” from FINA following his initial protest.
Speaking of cheaters:
The United States became the first team to win two Women’s World Cup titles.[14] Brandi Chastain’s celebration, which ended with her removing her jersey and revealing her sports bra underneath, appeared on the covers of Sports Illustrated, Time, and various newspapers the following day.[15][16] The celebration was criticized for being allegedly disrespectful, unfeminine, or inappropriate, but has endured as one of the most iconic moments in women’s sports history.[17] Chinese media protested Scurry’s save on Liu Ying, accusing her of cheating for stepping ahead of the line before Liu kicked the ball; Scurry confirmed that she did intentionally step over the line, but stated that “everybody does it”. Shut up!
Vecesy, George (8 August 1999). “Backtalk:… Read more »
Can’t see why swimmers can’t make a peaceful and respectful protest if they believe another swimmer has cheated. This is normal in democracies. Does fina not believe in free speech? There was no disrespect to the Chinese flag or to China as a country at all. I am a bit puzzled by all the fuss and fina warnings to the 2 Aussie and Brit swimmers.
Here is the full FINA report, read it,
https://assets.documentcloud.org/documents/6192550/sunyangdoping201819-1.pdf
6.48 Blood taken by a BCA or BCO without proper authorization or proper qualifications is not a “Sample” as defined in the FINA DC. As the improperly collected blood cannot be used for Doping Control purposes, it is not a “Sample” as that term is defined. Such blood is merely biological material taken from an athlete that has become medical waste.
6.38 This conduct on the part of the DCA is highly improper and extremely unprofessional. This should never happen. Chaperoning an athlete is a sensitive, personal and serious matter. It is not for ‘fans’. The Athlete was initially suspicious and eventually discovered that there… Read more »
Your US swimming athletes almost have asthma (hacked info from Fancy Bear/APT28), they need pills before matches. They are so “great”! 😂
FINA’s report on Sun which clearly states that Sun didn’t violate the standard and people simple ignore it. But half of the US swim team are doping under TUE and they said it is following the rule and it is legal. Who’s rules? When the rules favor them then the rules are good, otherwise the rules should be dismissed.
if Sun need pills to win, how could he get many champions, since the “scandal” happened, without being found cheating ?? I think you guys have been cheated by US media.
It exists & is called 5 Eyes .. Its sn intelligence co op that works against shared enemies . In 2016 it worked againstvTrump & having lost that might now go aftervSun .
Folk’s what were the FINA swimming officials thinking when they allowed convicted drug CHEAT Sun Yang to compete at the 2019 world swimming titles in South Korea. Those officials who were responsible for allowing this to occur should be sacked ASAP for their incompetence, negligence and for bringing swimming into disrepute.
Sun Yang should never have allowed to compete while he is currently under investigation for destroying vials of his blood with a hammer during a heated clash with drug testing officials last year.
Let’s remember that this bloke has form for drug cheating, which finally resulted in him been banned in 2014 for a doping ban. Now he faces a lifetime suspension if found guilty of the charges in… Read more »
Doping ban in 2014 is well documented. His intention wasn’t to dope as he was prescribed a medication for a heart condition which contained a banned sunstance that was recently added to the banned list a few months earlier. WADA could have appealed the decision but did not. Also, fake news about the 1500m withdrawal. What do you mean by tipped off of a drug test, if he was going to race and medal of course he was going to be drug tested. Plus, he was tested for his earlier races and he passed all of this. The guy has a anger problem but doesn’t make him a drug cheat. Back it up with evidence. I don’t see all this… Read more »
Yeah you’re so right! It’s not like it has ANYTHING to do with blood samples being smashed by hammers or anythin. I’m so proud of your observations😂
How about all 3 get suspended from the meet . If any other swimmers don’t agree to honour the hosts , tell them they can leave too .