Sun Yang's national title taken away for doping  

反兴奋剂中心：禁赛3月因孙杨出示证据为治心脏

反兴奋剂中心副主任赵健告诉新华社记者，孙杨在5月17日一次尿检中被查出使用了违禁物质曲美他嗪，遭禁赛3个月处罚，时间从5月17日至8月16日。同时，孙杨在全国游泳冠军赛上的1500米冠军头衔被取消，罚款5000元。 [查看全文]

Sun Yang's national 1,500-meter freestyle title was stripped as the star swimmer had failed a doping test during the national championships this May, announced the Zhejiang Swimming Association Monday.

The multi-Olympic and world champion tested positive for stimulant trimetazidine on May 17 during the national swimming championships and had been banned for three months till August 16, China Anti-Doping Agency (CHINADA) told Xinhua on Monday.

"I have taken many doping tests during years of training and competition and I had never failed one before," said Sun, the Zhejiang native, who was also fined 5,000 RMB (about $816).

"I was shocked and depressed at that time, but at the same time it made me cherish my sporting life even more. I will take it as a lesson and be more careful in the future."

The Zhejiang Swimming Association said the provincial association and some related officials were also punished by the Chinese Swimming Association.

Sun gave up the chance to have the B sample tested but defended himself in a July hearing where the experts decided to hand him a three-month ban.

Sun said he used the drug for medical reasons and had been unaware that it was listed in WADA's 2014 prohibited list. Trimetazidine is able to increase coronary flow reserve and was added to the prohibited list in January 2014.