Sun Yang's Australian coach quits Chinese swimming following doping ban

Aussie coach Denis Cotterell has quit from the Chinese swimming following the ban of disgraced swimmer Sun Yang.

Sun, a multiple world and Olympic champion, was banned by CAS for eight years for missing an out-of-competition test in 2018 in which a member of his entourage smashed a vial of the swimmer’s blood.

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Since then, Sun’s ‘striking’ lack of remorse and ‘blatant intimidatory tactics’ were revealed in an explosive 78-page report from the Court of Arbitration for Sport.

In a further blow to Yang, Australian coach Cotterell - who has been working with Yang - has quit Chinese swimming after the ordeal.

"I have terminated my contract with [the] Chinese Swimming Association," Cotterell told The Sunday Telegraph.

When asked if he supported Sun’s ban appeal, he said: “No”.

Cotterell defended Sun last year at the FINA World Championships when Aussie Mack Horton made worldwide headline for his podium protest when he came in behind the Chinese swimmer.

"I love working with an athlete who has paid their dues, has longevity and is still achieving," he said at the time.

"If you think for a second I would be doing that with someone that is a cheat then people don't know me. That is an insult."

Fans apologise to Mack Horton

Mack Horton was originally targeted last year on social media from Chinese swimming fans after he refused to share the podium with Sun at the world championships when he came in behind the controversial swimmer.

But in a twist, fans have come out and apologised to Horton following Sun’s extraordinary doping offence.

Weibo, a Chinese social media site, has seen users offer their apologies to Horton.

Chinese fans have also taken to Horton’s Instagram and apologised directly to him.

“Mr. Horton, I am sorry that I have wronged you,” one person wrote on Horton’s post.

“A lot of people are starting to support you on Weibo.”

Another comment read: “Sorry for all the undeserved hatred from China before.”

“You will be welcomed by Chinese people if you visit China some day. Sun Yang lied to the whole country and we just realised how we were fooled before.”

Many comments showed Chinese swimming fans turning on Sun following the ban.

With Agencies