Australia uncivilized: Chinese state newspaper

RIO DE JANEIRO: A Chinese state newspaper described Australia as “uncivilized” and “Britain’s offshore prison” as it rushed to the defence of champion swimmer Sun

RIO DE JANEIRO: A Chinese state newspaper described Australia as “uncivilized” and “Britain’s offshore prison” as it rushed to the defence of champion swimmer Sun Yang, who was labelled a drugs cheat by Australian rival and gold medallist Mack Horton.

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The row, which started at the Rio Games with a friendly splash in training between the two arch rivals, is turning into a battle of national media commentators and underlines how the issue of doping has become a defining issue for these Olympics.

The Global Times, an influential tabloid published by the ruling Communist Party’s People’s Daily, said Horton had shown a lack of respect to Sun and “cynical smugness” after beating the Chinese swimmer in the men’s 400 metres freestyle final. Sun was pulled up two years ago for using a banned stimulant.