Sun Yang Given Indefinite Training and Competition Suspension by Chinese Swimming

BEIJING, China, November 6. SUN Yang’s troubles after driving without a license in China continued today, as the Chinese swimming federation handed down a suspension from training and competition, according to the Xinhua news agency.

The federation did not specify how long the suspension would last, but did state that it excludes Sun from competing anywhere in the world and keeps him from any official training sessions with the national team. Also, Sun is suspended from any “social and commercial activities involving the national team,” the federation said.

Sun, the 2012 Olympic champion in the 400 and 1500 freestyles, was involved in a car accident on Sunday when a bus rear-ended him in the province of Huangzhou. The accident is not what made news. When the police arrived at the scene, it was discovered that Sun was driving without a license, something he had asked a friend to do while he was preparing for the world championships.

For this infraction, Sun has been ordered to pay about $328 in fines and spend seven days in jail. According to media reports, Sun is spending his jail time in a secluded cell and will be released Monday.

It’s unclear how the additional suspension by the Chinese swimming federation will affect Sun’s competition schedule. China will be picking swimmers for the 2014 Asian Games in a matter of months, so the end of the suspension could coincide with the trials for that meet. By comparison, Michael Phelps’ three-month suspension by USA Swimming after a photograph showed him smoking marijuana from a bong pipe in 2009 only kept him out of a couple of Grand Prix meets, but had him racing in time for the 2009 world championship trials.

Xinhua News article

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