Sun Yang got his verdict from the Sports Arbitration Court (Cas) in February. He already said that he intended to appeal the suspension for eight years - which he has now done, Swimming World reports. The Swiss Federal Court does not confirm any details of the appeal, but a case with a number linked to the Sun Yang case has been opened.

The reason that one can appeal a case from Cas to the Swiss court is that Cas has his court in the Swiss city of Lausanne. But the federal court does not look at the case itself, but at whether Cas has conducted his hearings in a correct and legal way. Sun Yang remains suspended during the appeal process, writes Swimming World.

The multiple Olympic and World Cup medalist, who had previously been suspended for doping violations for three months, at a home visit from the anti-doping agency Wada's doping controllers 2018, refused to submit blood and urine tests and then questioned the inspectors' ID documents and doping records. The Chinese are reportedly reported to have destroyed a blood test with a hammer, according to the International Swimming Association's report.

ARCHIVE: Sun Yang's 60-second doping scandal (28/2 2020)

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