{"id":423221,"date":"2020-03-19T09:42:42","date_gmt":"2020-03-19T16:42:42","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=423221"},"modified":"2020-03-19T09:42:42","modified_gmt":"2020-03-19T16:42:42","slug":"swim-poll-of-the-week-should-sun-yang-receive-a-lesser-sentence-in-exchange-for-cooperation-with-doctors-and-fina-reps","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/swim-poll-of-the-week-should-sun-yang-receive-a-lesser-sentence-in-exchange-for-cooperation-with-doctors-and-fina-reps\/","title":{"rendered":"Swim Poll of the Week: Should Sun Yang Receive a Lesser Sentence in Exchange For Cooperation With Doctors and FINA Reps?"},"content":{"rendered":"

This is the Swim Poll of the Week for Thursday, March 19, 2020, sponsored by Strechcordz Swim Training Products<\/a>. In our last poll, we wanted to know: Should Sun Yang receive a lesser sentence in exchange for cooperation with doctors and FINA reps?<\/strong><\/p>\n

Chinese swimming superstar\u00a0Sun Yang<\/a>\u00a0<\/strong>was handed an eight-year ban on February 28 for tampering with a doping sample in September 2018. FINA let him off the hook and allowed him to compete at the 2019 World Championships, where he was met with jeers and protests on the podium for the medals he won. But now his career is effectively over.<\/p>\n

The penalty is not backdated and starts on the day it was announced (February 28), ruling Sun out of the defense of the 200m freestyle title at Tokyo 2020.<\/p>\n

The\u00a0World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA)<\/strong> welcomed the ruling saying that it \u201cconfirms those concerns and is a significant result.\u201d<\/p>\n

Mack Horton<\/strong>, who in 2016 called Sun a \u201ccheat\u201d before beating Sun, the defending champion in the Olympic 400m freestyle final, told Swimming World today:<\/p>\n

\n
\n

\u201cMy stance has always been for clean sport. It is not, and never will be about individuals or nations. Today\u2019s outcome does not change my stance.\u201d<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n

The other man involved in podium protests against Sun\u2019s presence at World titles last July,\u00a0Duncan Scott<\/strong>, of Britain, told\u00a0Swimming World:<\/em><\/p>\n

\u201cI fully respect\u00a0and support\u00a0the decision that has been made and announced by the Court of Arbitration for Sport this morning.\u00a0I believe in clean sport and a level playing field for all athletes and I trust in CAS and WADA to uphold these values.\u201d<\/p><\/blockquote>\n

FINA, the international federation, now faces huge questions about its handling of a case in which its role was, at the very least, to remain neutral. The case goes down in swimming and anti-doping history as a thumping reminder that sports federations cannot serve as both police and promoter, the two roles representing a huge conflict of interest.<\/p>\n

In its statement on the CAS decision, FINA did not refer to any of the issues that demand urgent review of the governance structures, checks, balances and accountability within the organization. A FINA statement read:<\/p>\n

FINA has noted the judgement published by CAS today in the case of WADA versus Chinese swimmer Sun Yang.<\/em><\/p>\n

Notwithstanding any further legal action, and as directed, FINA will implement CAS\u2019s decision with regard to disciplinary action against the swimmer. FINA has also noted CAS\u2019s provisions with regard to the modification of competition results.<\/em><\/p><\/blockquote>\n

Should Sun Yang receive a lesser sentence in exchange for cooperation with doctors and FINA reps?<\/strong><\/p>\n

We asked for the swim poll and you answered with\u2026<\/span><\/p>\n