Swimming: the International Federation in troubled waters after the suspension of Sun Yang

The Arbitral Tribunal for Sport (CAS) has ruled. Sun Yang, 28, an icon of Chinese swimming and a three-time Olympic champion, has been sentenced to an eight-year suspension for violating anti-doping rules.

The hot and controversial swimmer from Hangzhou, already suspended three months in 2014 after a positive test for trimetazidine, had destroyed blood samples with a hammer during an unexpected visit of samplers at his home in September 2018.

An episode so grotesque that it could have made you smile. Except that the competitors of the Chinese, eleven times world champion - only Phelps, with 15 titles, did better - mostly laughed yellow when he saw that the International Swimming Federation (FINA) had whitewashed him for a defect in form.

FINA image takes a heavy hit

It took a call from the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) before the CAS before Sun Yang, who appeared on November 15, was finally found guilty - he now has a last resort before the Swiss federal court to dream of a hypothetical participation in the Tokyo Olympics.

The image of FINA, which has long been suspected of protecting the athlete, has taken a heavy hit. Especially since a document from the Swiss Supreme Court, revealed last week, shows that FINA helped Sun Yang in his attempt to have the appeal dismissed, arguing of a possible conflict of interest for the public prosecutor. AMA, the American Richard Young, former member of the FINA Legal Committee…

Lacourt's rage in Rio

Last summer, at the World Championships in Gwangju (South Korea), the presence of Sun Yang had caused a stir. After his 400m victory, his dolphin, the Australian Mack Horton, had even refused to share the podium with him. A gesture widely praised by his peers, which had earned him ... a warning from FINA. And an amendment to the regulations to punish any untimely gesture of rebellion. Sun Yang had left Korea with two gold medals which will not be withdrawn retroactively.

FINA involved in another lawsuit in the United States

In addition to this bleak case for its image after a financial scandal three years ago, FINA is involved in another lawsuit, launched in the United States by the International Swimming League (ISL), the new private league set up the year gone through billionaire Konstantin Grigorishin.

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After trying to stifle the arrival of this rival who wants to sink money into the pools by threatening to ban swimmers and interested national federations from any official competition (Worlds, Olympics, etc.) the body based in Lausanne had finally dropped ballast. Urgently mounting its own series of meetings by increasing the premiums to thwart the designs of this bulky competitor.

As a result, the ISL sued FINA in a northern California court for both its abuse of a monopoly and for plagiarism. The case is in progress. The FINA circuit is called the Fina Champions Swim Series. In mid-January, the headliner of the Shenzhen stage was called Sun Yang…