There's No Apology Coming To Sun Yang For "Drug Cheat" Label

"We have no intention of making an apology."

Australian Olympic swimmer and 400 metre freestyle gold medalist Mack Horton will not be apologising for comments he made about Chinese rival Sun Yang, says Australian chef de mission Kitty Chiller.

Martin Bureau / AFP / Getty Images, Matt Hazlett / Getty Images

Horton has repeatedly labelled Yang a "drug cheat" during his time in the Olympic village, referencing a three-month suspension handed down to Yang in 2014 after he tested positive for a banned substance.

"Mack obviously has very strong views about the need for clean sport", said Chiller, "as every single one of us does."

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"He has every right to express his views and his displeasure in that sense," Chiller added. "We have no intention of making an apology."

Horton's social media was blasted over the weekend as Chinese swim fans filling his Instagram with angry comments, prompting the 20-year-old to lock down his account.

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Yesterday, Chinese media began mocking Australia. And the Global Times even published an op-ed criticising Australia's "moral standard."

"We don’t know if it is Horton who is silly or it’s the Australian media that is evil", the Times wrote. "Or perhaps Australia just has a different moral standard.”