Outspoken swimming star Adam Peaty says a new rule ushered in by world body FINA to prevent a repeat of the podium protests that have plagued China's Sun Yang at the world titles in South Korea is "meaningless".
It has been revealed FINA on Tuesday fast tracked a new Code of Conduct provision entitled "rules of conduct during the competition" in the fallout over Sun being snubbed at Gwangju.
Swimmers are now at risk of losing a medal or being banned if they adopt the stance of Australia's Mack Horton and Briton Duncan Scott, who have failed to acknowledge Sun on the world titles podium.
It says athletes can receive a ban or lose their medal if they indulge in "any political, religious or discriminatory statement or behaviour" at the podium.
But world breaststroke champion Peaty - who has been a long time critic of Sun and FINA - said nothing would stop him from speaking out on doping issues.
"We're here to swim and we're not going to get involved in a (discussion on a) code of conduct that ain't gonna change anything - (it's) meaningless," the Briton told Swimming World Magazine website.
"Athletes are always entitled to freedom of speech and when we detect that something is wrong and there's cheating, then why shouldn't we have a voice?"
Every national swimming federation president and secretary general was issued the new edict by FINA at 9.46pm on Tuesday, according to The Australian.
That was barely an hour after Scott followed Horton's lead and failed to acknowledge Sun at the 200m freestyle medal ceremony, sparking ugly scenes.
Sun gesticulated wildly at Scott post-ceremony, with TV cameras capturing the 11-time world champ saying: "You're a loser; I'm winning."
Both Scott and Sun were issued with warnings from FINA for "inadequate behaviour".
But Peaty said: ""It's free speech. I don't think anyone should get a warning for exercising their right to free speech. "Any doping in the sport is a straight no from me."
Peaty said swimmers were now in the process of organising an athletes union to ensure they had a voice.
Olympic champion Horton lit the fuse for the world titles controversy when he refused to share a podium with Sun after the Chinese champion relegated him to 400m silver on Sunday night.
Swimmers are livid that Sun has been allowed to compete with a September Court of Arbitration for Sport hearing looming that may end the Chinese star's career.
Sun has been accused of destroying vials of his blood with a hammer during a clash with testers last year.
Sun - who served a 2014 doping ban - faces a lifetime suspension if found guilty.
AAP
