Controversial Chinese Champion Sun Yang Tried To Elbow And Kick Female Swimmer: Brazil’s Coach

A top-rated Chinese swimmer is in hot water after allegedly trying to elbow and kick a female swimmer at the 2015 World Championships in Kazan, Russia, Sunday. Alberto Pinto da Silva, the coach of Brazil’s national swimming team accused Olympic champion Sun Yang of trying to hurt Brazilian swimmer Larissa Oliveira as well as cause problems for other teams, globoesporte.com reported.

The Brazilian Aquatic Sports Federation has already filed a formal complaint with swimming’s world governing body, the International Swimming Federation or FINA.

"He was warming up and he pulled the Brazilian girl's foot. He ran her over. She got angry and had it out with him. He tried to elbow her and kick her,” Pinto da Silva said in the report. "So then the Brazilian coaches went to speak to him. He said she was bothering him and one of the coaches said that the pool wasn't just his. Everyone was at the side of the pool, and they were all swearing at each other."

The Brazilian coach admitted while there were verbal exchanges, there was no physical altercation during the incident. However, other officials and swimmers have shared alleged past incidents involving the Chinese swimmer.

FINA or the Chinese swimming officials have yet to make a formal comment about the accusations.

Curiously, Sun missed his final event, the men’s 1,500-meter freestyle final stating heart problems. Sun was named the “Male Swimmer of the Meet” after winning three medals in this year’s event.

This is not the first time Sun has been involved in controversies. In 2013, he was jailed after crashing a car, and in 2014, he was suspended for three months for testing positive for a banned drug.