Aussie swimming star Mack Horton has reheated his long-running beef with Chinese competitor Sun Yang by refusing to share a world championship podium with the freestyle gun.
ABC reports Horton, who came second in last night’s 400m freestyle final in Gwangju, South Korea, refused to take to the dais alongside Sun – but gladly took photos with Italian third-place finisher Gabriele Detti.
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Horton’s refusal to stand beside Sun stems from the Australian’s belief his competitor is a big-time drug cheat.
The stoush stretches back to the 2016 Rio Olympics, where Horton won Gold for Australia in the 400m freestyle. After accepting his medal, Horton effectively said Sun shouldn’t have been permitted to compete given his three-month suspension for doping in 2014.
Sun’s troubles with regulators are far from over, too. As it stands, the 27-year-old has been accused of disrupting a drug test in China last September, and a ruling against him could see the dude barred from competing in the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Sun has professed his innocence and has asked for an open hearing at the Court of Arbitration for Sport this September.
Until then, the conflict will continue – as will the claims of sour grapes from Sun’s vocal fans.
@_mackhorton loser，loser，loser，everytime you meet SunYang，you always lose，maybe you should give up，maybe you will be The GOAT of Loser。
— 黑桃不吃 (@gyhlwyj) July 21, 2019
https://twitter.com/hchjb1/status/1152927635653058561
Hey Horton why are you always on your knees? If you feel you can’t beat Sun, just get away from the pool forever. Trash. #sunyang #mackhorton pic.twitter.com/xfP4uIFYUG
— zzzzzpppppp (@GerardChenMavs) July 21, 2019
