The Chinese Swimming Association said on Friday that the team would be selected based on the results of the 2023 and 2024 world championships world championships, as well as the results of the national championships which will be held from 19-27 April. That would rule out six-time Olympic medallist Sun, whose doping suspension does not end until May. 

The Chinese Swimming Association said in a statement: "The top 8 results from the finals of each swimming event at the 2023 World Aquatics Championships held in Fukuoka, the 2024 World Aquatics Championships in Doha and the 2024 National Swimming Championships will be considered as qualifying results." 

Sun, 32, was banned for eight years by the World Anti-Doping Agency (AMA) in 2020 after smashing vials of blood during a doping test in 2018, the circumstances of which he still disputes.He succeeded in reducing the ban after appealing to the Court of Arbitration for Sport 

Sun has expressed an interest in returning to competition in time for Paris, which would be his fourth Olympics. In a post on his Weibo social media page on Saturday, he said: "Swimming is an inalienable part of my life, and I will always be passionate about it." He made no further comment.

He shot to fame at the 2012 London Olympics, winning gold in the 400m freestyle and 1,500m freestyle, as well as silver in the 200m freestyle and bronze in the 4x200m freestyle relay. Four years later in Rio, he won gold in the 200m freestyle and silver in the 400m freestyle. He is also an 11-time world champion.