GWANGJU, South Korea — Sun Yang was in the middle of controversy at the world swimming championships again. Only this time, it wasn’t his doing.
The Chinese star with a history of doping still got shunned on the medals podium.
Sun won the 200-meter freestyle on Tuesday night after Danas Rapsys of Lithuania finished first and got disqualified for an apparent false start.
Sun touched second, but was elevated after Rapsys had already celebrated in the pool.
Sun appeared surprised, clasping his hands to his face, but quickly sat on the lane rope and raised both arms in the air as a mix of cheers and boos rang out.
Katsuhiro Matsumoto, of Japan, took silver. Martin Malyutin, of Russia, and Duncan Scott, of Britain, tied for bronze.
On the podium, Scott wanted no part of sharing the moment with Sun.
Scott kept his hands clasped behind his back and refused to shake Sun’s hand, standing off on his own while the other medalists joined Sun to pose for photographers.
Sun, who served a three-month doping ban in 2014, is being allowed by FINA to compete in Gwangju ahead of a Court for Arbitration in Sport hearing in September that threatens Sun’s career.
After Sun won the 400 free, silver medalist Mack Horton, of Australia, refused to step on the podium or acknowledge Sun during the medals ceremony. FINA, swimming’s governing body, sent warning letters to Swimming Australia and Horton for his actions.
“FINA has currently done more to reprimand Mack Horton than they have done to reprimand Sun Yang,” said American Lilly King, who won the women’s 100 breaststroke.
In a statement, FINA said its executive board met to discuss the situation involving Sun and Scott and decided to send warning letters to both swimmers.
“Both competitors had an inadequate behavior on this occasion, which is not acceptable,” FINA said, citing a specific rule in its constitution.
Sun has been accused of smashing vials of his blood with a hammer during a clash last year with testers, and faces a lifetime ban if found guilty.
“He does quite a good job of making sure everyone continues to know about it,” Scott said, referring to Sun’s pending doping case. “So I guess that’s all I’ve got to say about that.”
Sun spread his arms apart and looked at Scott as the Brit turned to come off the podium.
“You’re a loser,” Sun told Scott. “I’m a winner.”
Sun and the other two medalists stopped for photographers on the pool deck, but Scott kept on walking.
“The athletes are starting to stand up for themselves and stand up for what they believe in, so I commend them,” King said. “That’s incredibly brave.”
There were more boos — and cheers from Chinese fans — in the crowd at Nambu University Municipal Aquatics Center.
Without three-time defending champion Katie Ledecky in the field, Simona Quadarella of Italy won the 1,500 freestyle in 15:40.89 — well off Ledecky’s world record of 15:20.48.
Earlier Tuesday, the American star withdrew from the final because of unspecified illness.
Ledecky also dropped out of the 200 freestyle heats.