Sun Yang's CAS case against WADA will be open to the public ©Getty Images

A hearing at the Court of Arbitration for Sport (CAS) in the case involving controversial Chinese swimmer Sun Yang will be open to the public and the media, it was announced today.

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) appealed to the CAS after the International Swimming Federation (FINA) opted to issue Sun with a warning following allegations a blood sample was deliberately smashed during an argument with drug testers earlier this year.

The CAS hearing between Sun, who served a three-month drugs ban in 2014, FINA and WADA will be only the second to be open to the public in the history of sport's supreme court.

The first public hearing was between Irish swimmer Michelle Smith de Bruin and FINA in 1999.

Sun, a three-time Olympic champion, had asked CAS to make the meeting open "in order to be fully transparent and to clear his name".

CAS said in a statement that it will "likely take place in Switzerland".

The hearing had tentatively been scheduled for September but will not be held before the end of October, CAS added.

"Due to unexpected personal circumstances, one of the parties was obliged to request a postponement of the hearing," CAS said.

"Such request was assented to by the other parties and accepted by the CAS panel."

Sun Yang's appearance at the FINA World Championships in Gwangju last month sparked podium protests from other swimmers ©Getty Images
Sun Yang's appearance at the FINA World Championships in Gwangju last month sparked podium protests from other swimmers ©Getty Images

The Chinese swimmer, winner of two Olympic gold medals at London 2012 and one at Rio 2016, cut a controversial figure at last month's FINA World Aquatics Championships in Gwangju.

Two athletes - Australia's Mack Horton and Britain's Duncan Scott - refused to share a podium with Sun after the conclusion of the 400 metres freestyle and 200m freestyle, respectively, in protests aimed at the 27-year-old.

Horton, the silver medallist behind Sun in the 400m race, refused to step onto the podium for the medal ceremony.

Britain's bronze medallist Scott then did not shake hands with Sun or pose for photos on the podium after the Chinese won the 200m freestyle final.

Sun screamed angrily in Scott's direction as he climbed onto the podium and the now 11-time world champion allegedly called the Briton a "loser" as the medallists were walking away.

All three swimmers have been issued with warning letters by FINA but Sun is facing a lifetime ban if CAS rules in WADA's favour, due to his earlier suspension for prohibited substance trimetazidine.

WADA is appealing as the organisation believes the warning given by FINA was an insufficient punishment.

Sun denies wrongdoing and claims he has been tried by the media in the case.