Olympic Champion Sun Yang Banned for 8 Years in Doping Case

China's Sun Yang waves as he leaves the pool deck following the men's 4x200m freestyle relay heats at the World Swimming Championships in Gwangju, South Korea, on July 26, 2019. Mark Schiefelbein/AP Photo

GENEVA—When the hammer came down on a container holding a vial of Sun Yang’s blood, it ultimately shattered the career of China’s greatest swimmer.

The three-time Olympic champion was banned for eight years on Feb. 28, likely ending the 28-year-old Sun’s racing days before he could defend his 200-meter freestyle title at the Tokyo Games.