Sun Yang's suspension: what's next?
- By Mark Dreyer
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E-mail China.org.cn, November 12, 2013
It's hard to know what was more embarrassing for Chinese swimmer Sun Yang: being detained for seven days for driving without a license or being caught driving a Porsche when he is known as the face of Hyundai across China. More significantly, though, it's his indefinite ban from the swimming competition that might cause him more hassle in the long run.
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Sun was driving a Porsche SUV in his hometown of Hangzhou last Sunday when he was hit by a bus. [File photo] |
Sun was driving a Porsche SUV in his hometown of Hangzhou last Sunday when he was hit by a bus. One day later, he was sentenced to one week's detention and fined 2,000 yuan (about US$330), not because of any culpability in the accident, but because he does not possess a driving license. One can only speculate on the number of times Sun was driving around before finally getting caught in the act.
The traffic accident proved only the beginning. Sun's explanation on his microblog -- how his intense focus on training and competition left him with only a hazy knowledge of traffic laws -- read more like an excuse from an entitled rich kid than the apology it was purporting to be.
It was also patently nonsense: his "weak knowledge of the law" defense might have worked had he driven the wrong way down a one-way street or been driving 40 in a 30-zone. Yet using this excuse as a way to mitigate his behavior prompts the obvious question: what, exactly, does Sun Yang think driving licenses are for?
His behavior has also done little for his popularity. At a time when the public is particularly sensitive about the shameless abuse of power by those in high positions and the poor behavior of the so-called tu hao, or rich brats, Sun's own spoilt actions don't help him in the court of public opinion, especially after recently falling out with his coach who felt Sun's focus had been on girls and money, not on swimming.
While Sun can hold no qualms about his most recent fine and punishment -- under Chinese law he could have faced 15 days in detention, rather than the seven he received -- it does appear he is being doubly punished. In addition to his court sentence, he's effectively also been banned from his place of work -- the pool -- by being suspended from even training with the national team, let alone competing. He's also been banned from any commercial activities for the second time this year.
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