Three-time Olympic gold medallist Sun Yang is hoping to return to competitive swimming “as soon as possible” after his more than four-year ban for a doping offence ended on Tuesday.
The Chinese freestyler was banned for eight years by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) in 2020 for breaking a vial of blood during a test in 2018, circumstances he still disputes.
The suspension was reduced to four years and three months in 2021 following an appeal by the Court of Arbitration for Sport.
“I hope to choose a sport that I can compete in as soon as possible and get back to the starting line,” the 32-year-old told state media outlet The Paper in an interview.
Sun's return comes as Chinese swimmers are under increased scrutiny after it was revealed WADA had allowed 23 Chinese swimmers to compete in the 2021 Tokyo Olympics despite them testing positive for banned substances.
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WADA accepted China's explanation that the athletes unknowingly ingested the substance through hotel meals.
Son's return comes too late to compete in this summer's Paris Olympics, but he has indicated he has his eye on longer-term goals.
“The Olympics are just a competition to me. The Olympics will be over, and after it's over there will be another Olympics,” Son said.
“Since I've returned to training I've been doing a lot of mock competition tests. I'm always trying to get that feeling back,” he said.
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The two-metre tall Sun was the first Chinese swimmer to win gold medals in the 400m and 1500m at the 2012 London Olympics, but has long been a controversial figure in the swimming world.
He was called a cheater by some of his rivals at the 2016 Rio Olympics, and at the 2019 World Championships, two athletes refused to stand with him on the medal podium.
Sun was also suspended for three months in 2014 after testing positive for a banned substance.
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“Compared to other athletes, I feel very lucky and I'm very grateful,” Son said, referring to his past achievements, which include 11 gold medals at world championships from 2011 to 2019.
He felt “very depressed” when he first found out he'd been suspended for a second time, but said his time away from the pool had given him the space to pursue other interests.
“Looking back (on the past four years), I don't really think it was a big deal,” Son said.
“Actually, the biggest change in these four years is having a family and having another spouse,” he said of his marriage to gymnast Zhang Dudu.
“These four years have added color to my life.”
