Wollongong Olympian Emma McKeon has spoken out in support of Mack Horton, as she pulled out of the 200m freestyle due to illness.
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McKeon took to social media to back Horton's refusal to stand on the podium alongside rival and controversial Chinese gold medallist Sun Yang after the 800m freestyle final in South Korea.
The protest warranted world body FINA to issue an official warning to Horton and Swimming Australia late on Monday night.
Horton is not happy that Sun, who served a 2014 doping ban, has been allowed to compete ahead of a Court of Arbitration for Sport hearing in September that may end the Chinese star's career.
"Shout out to Mack Horton refusing to stand on the podium with known doper Sun Yang after silver at the world champs," McKeon wrote on Instagram.
Sun has been accused of smashing vials of his blood with a hammer during a clash last year with testers.
He faces a lifetime ban if found guilty.
Three of the top four contenders in the women's 200m freestyle dramatically pulled out of the world swimming titles event which could handle the gold to Australia's Ariarne Titmus.
McKeon and American great Katie Ledecky withdrew due to illness ahead of Tuesday's heats while Canada's Commonwealth Games 200m champion Taylor Ruck has been rested.
World No.1 Titmus has now firmed to collect 200m gold at Gwangju.
The 18-year-old has already claimed a shock 400m freestyle win after upsetting Ledecky on Sunday.
Australian officials said McKeon was rested for Tuesday morning's 200m heats as a precaution but was still set to contest her remaining events - the 100m freestyle and four relays.
McKeon's withdrawal denies her a tilt at a world titles record.
McKeon was set to become the first to claim eight medals at a single world titles after collecting 4x100m freestyle relay gold and 100m butterfly bronze.
In a glittering career, record 23-time Olympic champion Michael Phelps' biggest haul at a single world titles was seven medals - a feat he achieved twice.
However, McKeon can now equal the medals haul, after starting with a 4x100m freestyle relay gold.
On the podium, McKeon joined MacNeil and Sjostrom to display a message written on their hands to TV cameras - "Rikako never give up".
It was a show of support for former world junior 100m fly champ Rikako Ikee of Japan, who announced in February that she was battling leukaemia at the age of 19.
AAP
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