Sun 'innocent' in dispute over blood sample

Chinese authorities back Olympic champ amid claims he broke anti-doping rules

The Chinese Swimming Association on Sunday protested the innocence of Olympic champion Sun Yang after a British newspaper reported he is facing a lifetime ban for violating anti-doping rules.

The Sunday Times claimed that Sun and one of his security guards destroyed a sealed blood sample after questioning the credibility of three drug testers during an out-of-competition test on Sept 4 last year in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province.