In 2019, Sun Yang was placed at the top of the podium twice at the World Cup in South Korea. But he was already suspected of doping after sabotaging a test in 2018. In February 2020, however, he was eventually suspended for eight years, the highest possible penalty that the arbitration court CAS can provide.
Then many in the swimming world cheered, including Swedish superstar Sarah Sjöström, and probably thought it was the end for the 28-year-old Chinese. But now Sun Yang has been called to the Chinese national team's Olympic camp, and it is provoking reactions.
- I personally think it is very strange and question what signals you want to convey as a swimming team when you invite a swimmer to his Olympic camp that has recently been suspended for eight years. This could never have happened in Sweden, says Sarah Sjöström to Expressen.