Gwangju (South Korea) (AFP)

The fight against doping, including on the podiums: a new victory for Sun Yang, over 200 m this time, responded a new protocol defiance at the World Swimming Championships, Tuesday in Gwangju (South Korea).

In the Korean basin, the competition opened with a new evening of controversy with the victory of Sun (1: 44.93), obtained after the disqualification of Lithuanian Danas Rapsys, sanctioned for having moved on the starting block.

Two days after Australian Horton's refusal to climb the podium in the 400m - already won by the Chinese swimmer at the heart of a controversial doping control last September, during which he is accused of having broken suddenly hammer a blood sample - it was the turn of British Duncan Scott, third tied to show his distrust of him.

- Warning -

Unlike Horton, Scott (22) is well on the third step of the podium to receive his bronze medal. But he then refused to shake hands with Sun, and then stayed away from the souvenir photo.

No taste of the big Chinese of almost two meters, who first wielded a raging fist in his direction exultant "I won, I won!" And then throwing him "You're a loser, I am a winner "once the ceremonial ceremony is over.

Both received a warning from Fina, for "inappropriate behavior", as had been the case for Horton.

If Scott did not comment on his move, he received support from British star brewer Adam Peaty.

"He's absolutely right, the most important thing as a sportsman is that you can make your voice heard, Duncan did it," he said.

The presence of Sun, not sanctioned by the Fina, for vice de form, irritates a lot of swimmers.

Especially since the 27-year-old Chinese will be heard by the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in September, after the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has appealed. Already suspended three months for doping in 2014, he risks lifetime suspension that applies in case of recidivism.

In the meantime, by offering himself an eleventh world title, Sun has joined the Australian Ian Thorpe as the third most successful swimmer in history on the world stage, who appears on "tote bags" in the streets of Gwangju.

And it may not be over yet: he will swim the 800m final on Wednesday night.

- Ledecky sick -

The French Charlotte Bonnet has rallied to courage the final of the 200 m, deserted by the American Katie Ledecky, ill.

"I need some rest here," Bonnet said, still out of breath, after completing his race in 1:56:19, the sixth fastest time in the semi-finals dominated by the seven-time world distance medalist , the Italian Federica Pellegrini.

"It's been a very, very difficult race and I'm really happy to be in the final," said the 24-year-old from Nice, far from her sparkling form all season long, crowned with three medals. European gold, including its first individual, on 200 m precisely.

"Even if there is a lot of goodwill and she did everything to compensate for this virus of February, then her recalcitrant shoulder (inflammation late May, ed), she pays both her passages a little complicated", explains his coach Fabrice Pellerin.

"It's going to be a very physically tough final for her," he predicts. Bonnet, sitting leaning against the wall of the mixed zone a few minutes, would not contradict him.

A cascade of major packages had preceded the series in the morning. In the lead, that of Queen Ledecky for "medical reasons".

Will Ledecky (22 years old) go back to the Korean Basin? Interrogation point.

Two days after being dethroned by the young Australian Ariarne Titmus on 400 m, she who was undefeated on this distance in the major league, the five-time Olympic champion and fourteen-time world champion has, in addition to the 200 m, renounced the final of the 1500 m, a specialty of which she was a triple holder of the world crown.

© 2019 AFP