Chinas Sun has no plans of slowing down after comeback from doping ban

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FILE PHOTO: Chinese swimmer Sun Yang poses after a public hearing of the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) for the appeal filed by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) against him and the Federation Internationale de Natation (FINA),at the Conference Centre of the Fairmont Le Montreux Palace, in Montreux, Switzerland November 15, 2019. REUTERS/Denis Balibouse/File Photo

Formerly banned Chinese swimmer Sun Yang said he has no plans to retire as is driven by the desire to push his limits after finishing sixth in the mens 400 metres freestyle at Chinas National Games in Shenzhen and sliding into Wednesdays 200 metres final.

Three-times Olympic champion Sun, 34, was banned from competing for four years and three months for a dope test violation in 2018 in which he and members of his entourage smashed vials containing blood samples.

The ban, reduced from the original eight years on appeal, expired in May 2024, though Sun missed national trials for the Paris Games due to the suspension.

Sun, who represents Zhejiang province, said he has no plans to retire any time soon. He sits eighth heading into the final after an impressive semi-final swim of 1:48.30, trailing 18-year-old leader Zhang Zhanshuo by 1.41 seconds.

Sun previously won the mens 400 metres freestyle title last year at the National Summer Swimming Championships in