Friday 15 November 2019 09:10, UK
China’s star swimmer Sun Yang is giving evidence in a landmark public hearing on Friday where he risks being banned from the 2020 Tokyo Olympics.
Sun is the first witness scheduled to speak on Friday in a rare Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) appeal hearing held in open session before media and public observers.
The three-time Olympic champion's hearing is expected to last more than 11 hours, although a verdict from three CAS judges is unlikely this year.
The appeal case was brought by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) and centres on Sun's right to refuse co-operation with three anti-doping officials who tried to take blood and urine samples at his home in China last year.
A security guard instructed by Sun's mother used a hammer to smash a box containing a vial of his blood during a late-night dispute after the swimmer questioned the collection team's credentials.
A first judgement in January saw Sun only cautioned by a tribunal appointed by world swimming body FINA.
Although Sun and his entourage were criticized for their conduct, the tribunal panel said the sample mission was void and invalid because anti-doping protocol was not followed.
Technically, Sun was judged to be not properly notified of needing to give samples.
WADA has asked for a ban of between two and eight years, believing Sun voluntarily refused to submit to give samples.
If WADA's appeal is upheld, Sun risks a longer sanction because it would be his second offence.
He served a three-month ban imposed by Chinese authorities in 2014 after testing positive for a banned stimulant.
Sun became a star in China as its first man to win an Olympic title in swimming.
He took gold medals in 400m and 1,500m freestyle at the 2012 London Olympics before adding gold in 200m at the 2016 Rio de Janeiro Olympics.
Sun also has 11 world championship titles and is a polarising figure in the sport.
He provoked anger among rivals by winning two titles at the World Aquatics Championship in July while the CAS appeal was pending.
Medallists from Australia and Britain refused to stand on the podium with him in Gwangju, South Korea.
