In the first official recognition and acknowledgement that Russian superstar swimmer and World Record holder Yulia Efimova actually tested positive for a banned substance, FINA has leveled a “Provisional Suspension” upon the swimmer as of January 21st, 2014.
The reports of a positive test first came out a week ago in a Russian newspaper, though since then Russian authorities have been carefully cautioning the public against putting too much stock in the report.
But now, with FINA confirmation of a positive test for the Anabolic Steroid DHEA, the details have been confirmed. Efimova was hit with a out-0f-competition doping control test, by FINA, in Los Angeles, where she trains with the Trojan Swim Club.
In the meanwhile, she has been provisionally suspended yet without a hearing before FINA, and that suspension for now will last at least until that hearing is set. This means that Efimova will be out of competition at least temporarily, though history says this period would count as ‘time served’ if a longer suspension is placed upon her.
Since that positive test, we now know that Efimova earned four European Short Course Championship gold medals and a silver as part of a hugely successful winter for the Russians. That includes two medley relay golds. She also broke World Records in the 50 breast and the 200 breast in short course meters after the test: records that as of now still stand.
Efimova would be the first World Championship medalist to be suspended, albeit provisionally, since Denmark’s Mads Glaesner in 2013, though Efimova is an even more significant world player. She’s also the 4th member of the Russian Olympic swim team to fail a doping control test.
The full statement by FINA is below.
On October 31, 2013 a swimmer Yuliya Efimova (RUS) was tested positive to the substance 7-keto-DHEA (Class S.1.1.b Endogenous Anabolic Androgenic Steroids) with the occasion of the FINA out-of-competition doping control test in Los Angeles (USA).
Following the results management process and in accordance with the FINA DC Rule 7.1.11, the FINA Executive decided to impose a Provisional Suspension on the athlete until a hearing before the FINA Doping Panel can be made. The Provisional Suspension started on January 21, 2014.
The decision is definitely both NOT just and fair under the circumstances of this case. There are far worse cases than this one and with less extreme punishment. It is very sad and disappointing to see how FINA DP makes their decisions. I do believe that other unspoken factors, like athlete’s nationality and recent political events, were taken into consideration to come up with such a prejudice decision! I wish I could file an appeal for her!
Olesya – the minimum Efimova could have gotten with 12 months. Keep in mind that there are different standards and guidelines for different substances. This class of substances has a minimum of 12 and a maximum of 24 months.
Well, then she should have gotten 12 and not 16 plus loss of her records. Btw, it’s proven that the substance does not directly affect your performance! And may be the guidelines should be revised based on the actual performance effect.
Saying that the guidelines should be changed is not the same as saying that she was unfairly punished because of “politics” or “the country she comes from.” If you doubt that, then I would suggest you read the entire document and see that the doping panel followed the established procedure to the letter of the law, and reached a defensible conclusion that could apply to any other athlete in the exact same scenario for the exact same substance.
Unfortunately guidelines are not always followed. And there are plenty of cases like that not only in the doping control. There is almost always prejudice before decision is made. Perfect example are the comments above, many of them say Russians can’t be trusted and etc.
It is just heartbreaking too see how one of the strongest, talented, honest and hardworking swimmers gets punished like that. She found out that she took illegal supplement almost at the same time as the public did!
The decision is definitely both NOT just and fair under the circumstances of this case. There are far worse cases than this one and with less extreme punishment. It is very sad and disappointing to see how FINA DP makes their decisions. I do believe that other unspoken factors, like athlete’s nationality and recent political events, were taken into consideration to come up with such a prejudice decision!
Yulia could join my team any day.
Everyone is talking about how bad this athlete is, but the drug she tested positive for (DHEA) is not an anabolic steroid. It is a supplement. You can walk down to your Vitamin Shoppe and pick it up, no prescription, no underground blackmarket, no syringes. It is generally banned by most doping agencies, but that doesn’t make it a steroid.
So which one is worse, taking DHEA, or Clenbuterol like Hardy did (who only served one year of suspension and kept training throughout the period while Katrin Krabbe served 3 years suspension), or the masking agent Adderall like Ous Mellouli, or stimulant Levmetamfetamine like Mads Glaesner did.
Sean, DHEA is a steroid because of its chemical composition, that is not a matter of opinion but basic organic chemistry. Whether it’s illegal or not is irrelevant – many substances considered as performance enhancing are perfectly legal, but elite athletes sign up to a code which forbids them from using them. You couldn’t ever base doping legislation on what is legal or illegal since it varies so much by country anyway.
I must admit that I have had my doubts about her and some of the Russian swimmers over the past year (I have my doubts over some American swimmers too but that is another discussion). However, I put aside my doubt and cheered on Efimova when I watched her race online in 2013…….now I just feel cheated and duped.
I await to see what else comes out of this story and who is the next swimming cheat to be found out. Who knows who or where they will be from?
Read the case and not the article. You were not cheated and duped. She is the most fair athlete out there whose punishment was to extreme for pretty much an innocent mistake!
I think you’re tongue-in-cheek, but that would be a legitimate, albeit probably not wise, idea. There are plenty of otherwise legal banned substances that are purely beneficial to one’s health and, yes, performance, that we don’t allow our elite athletes to partake in.
‘It is a shame for a man to grow old without seeing the beauty and strength of which his body is capable.’ Socrates
We could make a separate division where any and all legal, non-dangerous substances are allowed. Practices could be held in bathtubs, not pools, and training would look similar to cooking meth. We shall call it, the Archimedes division…’Eureka, I’ve discovered the perfect formula for swimming fast!’
Unfortunately, this puts you in the same position of having to prove that the competitors in the “clean” pool are actually clean!
The only solution is to insist on permanent bans.
You have to make the penalty so severe that it removes the incentive.
They should make a separate sport for swimmers who cheat lol
Really sad to hear this Yulia was one of my favs with her earrings and bright suits but drugs cheaters should be exposed and shamed. 2 years ? nope should be banned for life make the mistake pay the price. Although this has just added to the pile of Russian cases im not going to cast an eye of doubt on the rest of the team hopefully the likes of Vlad , Daniel , Chimrova etc stay clean such a talented bunch of swimmers the Russians.