Denis Cotterell confirms not allowed to coach Sun Yang

Denis Cotterell, the Australian swimming coach who has been instructing Chinese Olympic Champion swimmer Sun Yang, confirmed with Xinhua on Thursday that he was instructed by Swimming Australia Ltd (SAL) that he will not be allowed to coach Sun as a result of the new policy to be implemented by SA.

In an email reply, Cotterell explained the relations between his Miami Swimming Club and SA's Podium Performance Center (PPC) Program, saying that after the club was selected and classified as one of the 15 PPC centers, he was "compelled to abide by their (SA 's) policies and therefore obliged to their direction in relation to my coaching of Sun Yang".

Podium Center Program, launched in 2013 after an unsatisfactory performance by Australian swimmers at the London Olympics in 2012, aims to provide the world's best environment and support for Australia's elite swimmers and coaches.

The Program set its goal for podium success by Aussie swimmers in Rio and Tokyo Olympics in 2016 and 2020.

The Program forms partnerships with swimming clubs and high performance coaches around Australia. In 2014, 15 swimming clubs and training centers joined the Program and its lower-tier Podium Potential Program.

"This is a new initiative to benefit the club as a whole and ensure the coaching structure at the club until the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro (2016)," said Cotterell, "As such, they are now my employers, and I am bound by the conditions of the agreement."

SA had announced last week to implement new policies concerning any swimmer who is a member of an International Federation other than Australia and wish to train in a Podium Center Program under the direction of any coach associated with the Program.

Under the new policies, all foreign swimmers must report to SAL whether they have had any previous sanctions against them resulting from an anti-doping violation under any international jurisdiction.

"If yes, they will not be approved to train in a SAL Podium Center and if no, approval from SAL will be subject to the foreign swimmer agreeing that SAL can list them with ASADA for a drug test where they will be eligible for selection at 'out of competition' testing," Kathleen Rayment, SAL media manager, told Xinhua last week.

The Chinese Swimming Association (CSA) announced last week that it had banned the double Olympic champion for three months from May 16 to Aug. 17 as he had tested positive for the banned stimulant trimetazidine in May. "It was with regret I had to notify CSA of this decision (of stop coaching Sun)," Cotterell said.

"Because of the number of Chinese swimmers under my charge, I was already in a difficult position when the Podium Performance Centers (PPC) were first instituted, but now with increased restrictions and conditions added to the original concept, it is impossible for me to coach as I have done in the past," he said.

"Hopefully, you can understand, I must appease the taxpayer and sponsors who are funding this program. It is with regret I must withdraw from my contract with CSA."

Cotterell said he was disappointed for Sun Yang and "feel for him personally".

"His situation is most unfortunate, and I definitely don't hold him to any blame," he said, "While only knowing the circumstances as outlined in the various press and media outlets, I feel he's been let down."

Cotterell recalled his cooperation with Chinese swimmers and coaches since eight years ago when he started to work with Zhang Lin, the first male Olympic medallist, and his coach Chen Yinghong.

"I will miss many of my Chinese associates, especially the coaches and swimmers I have had the pleasure of working with over the last eight years," he said.

"I don't preclude the possibility of being involved sometime in the future, with Sun Yang and other Chinese swimmers," he added.

Cotterell also confirmed that Grant Hackett, the Australian Olympic and world champion, has been "in the squad", "helping our best seniors and preparing to be fit to be included in our club's 4x200m freestyle relay at the National Championship in April".