China’s three-time Olympic champion swimmer Sun Yang has filed a police report after being subjected to “large-scale” cyberbullying, his team said on Friday.
Sun, 34, returned to competition in 2024 following a four-year ban for breaking vials of blood during a 2018 doping test, the circumstances of which he still disputes.
His team said on Friday that false information, including “maliciously fabricated rumours” had recently circulated online, calling it “organized and planned cyberbullying and defamation”.
They did not specify what false information had been spread about Sun.
The swimmer reported the case to police in the eastern city of Hangzhou, his team said on social media, posting a photo of a notice it received after filing the complaint.
“We solemnly warn all rumormongers and malicious distributors: immediately delete all offending content and stop broadcasting,” his team said.
“Our legal team has secured evidence and will pursue civil, administrative, and even criminal liability under the law.”
Chinese authorities have grappled with what state media has called “toxic fandom” surrounding its sports stars.
It includes fans obsessing over athletes’ personal lives and attacking opponents online.
Sun, nearly two meters tall (six feet seven inches), was China’s first male Olympic swimming champion, winning the 400m and 1500m freestyle at the 2012 London Games.
But he has long been a controversial figure in the pool.
Some rivals accused him of cheating at the 2016 Rio Olympics and two competitors refused to stand with him on the medal podiums at the 2019 World Championships.
Sun was also handed a three-month ban in 2014 after testing positive for a banned substance.
