Chinese swimming star Sun Yang, a three-time Olympic gold medalist, is set to make his comeback, according to DaWan News reports.
A source with knowledge of the Anhui Provincial Sports Bureau told local media that “the General Administration of Sport of China has confirmed Sun Yang’s participation in the upcoming Hefei competition.”
The China National Summer Swimming Championships are scheduled in Hefei, Anhui Province, from the 25th to the 28th. During this event, Sun will compete as a member of the Zhejiang team.
Sun received a four-year and three-month suspension in April 2021. The penalty, which started on February 28, 2020, when the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) first imposed it, will end on May 28, 2024.
He faced allegations of obstructing doping testers who visited his home to collect samples in August 2018. His team argued that the testers did not present valid identification. The Chinese Swimming Association supported this claim and decided not to impose a penalty at that time.
Following this, the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) requested that CAS suspend Sun. As a result, he missed the Tokyo 2021 Olympics and will also miss the Paris Olympics.
Despite these setbacks, Sun strongly desires to return to competitive swimming. After his suspension ended in May, he posted on social media, “Those who surpass themselves know no fear,” indicating his intention to come back.
In a recent interview, Sun said, “When I received the suspension verdict in 2020, I promised myself that I would not retire in four years and would definitely return.”
At 33 years old, Sun, born in 1991, faces questions about whether he can regain his previous level of performance. Reports indicate that during this comeback, he will compete in his primary events, the 200-meter and 400-meter races.