IN a case of mistaken identity, Australia’s gold medal swim king hasn’t been the only Horton receiving a barrage of abuse from Chinese fans on social media.

The Australian’s decision to call his rival, Sun Yang, a “drug cheat” after the Chinese swimmer tested positive to a banned substance in 2014 has had a profound effect on one Mark Horton in the United Kingdom.

Both Horton’s have received their fair share of negative comments from Chinese fans, despite the Englishman making it clear that it wasn’t he who called out Yang’s drug past.

For the record I'm not the Australian swimmer who said something about a Chinese swimmer #sunyang — Mark Horton (@_markhorton) August 7, 2016

Despite the British Horton’s pleas, Chinese fans kept at it, insulting him in every way imaginable, from ‘liar’, to ‘loser’, and even ‘coward’; and that was just one tweet.

@_markhorton not only a liar and a loser in life but also a coward who doesn't have the guts to admit what he say 💩💩💩💩 — summeratjuly (@summeratjuly) August 7, 2016

@_markhorton how dare you accuse him of being a drug cheat. — ѕєℓву ∂υƒƒιєℓ∂ (@selbyduf) August 7, 2016

@_markhorton pic.twitter.com/JP30vVMuB3 Oh！！！It turns out you are a sinister villain — 夏子睿 (@9qlw1irnWfeO5zk) August 7, 2016

#apologizetosunyang@_markhorton YOU SHOULD APOLOGIZE TO SUN YANG

YOU SHOULD LEARN TO RESPECT OTHERS!!! pic.twitter.com/andeYZUY6i — 昼间诗 (@karison_) August 7, 2016

The abuse became too much for British Horton, who resorted to calling on Mack Horton — the Australian swimmer — to apologise to Yang.

@_mackhorton mate, just apologise! I'm getting abuse for something you said. #SunYang — Mark Horton (@_markhorton) August 7, 2016

As of Monday (EST), that plea has fallen on deaf ears, and with Horton and Yang set to go head-to-head again in the 1500m freestyle, another chapter of this wacky situation will surely be written.