As a follow-up to yesterday’s breaking news regarding Russia’s reigning 100 breaststroke World Champion Yulia Efimova having reportedly failed a doping test, the Russian Swimming Federation has now released an official statement.
Late yesterday, Russian media reported that Efimova had tested positive for meldonium, the same drug that tripped up tennis star Maria Sharapova earlier this month.
Efimova could face a penalty as harsh as a lifetime ban because this wouldn’t be her first doping offense. Efimova tested positive for 7-keto-DHEA back in 2013 and was hit with a 16-month suspension and stripped of two world records and five international medals as a punishment.
Below is the statement as it appears roughly translated directly from the All-Russian Swimming Federation’s website:
In connection with the publication appeared in the media concerning Yulia Efimova, All-Russian Swimming Federation informs that it has received from the International Federation of FINA (FINA) documents confirming the temporary suspension from competitions athletes in connection with a possible anti-doping rule violation.
In order to obtain information with the explanation for this situation, the President of the WFTU, Vladimir Salnikov will meet soon with leaders FGBU “Center of sports preparation of national teams of Russia” and the Ministry of Sports of Russia. In September 2015, according to the approved individual plans, a number of swimmers was sent for training abroad. Ensuring the preparation of this group of swimmers has been fully taken FGBU “Center athletic training teams of Russia” and was appointed curator of the official of the group Sergey Ilyin.
Please note that all official information WWF will publish exclusively on its official website.
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We will continue to follow developments.
A coach cannot control what his/her athletes put in the body. Salo is not to be blamed.
All anyone can do it hope that their athletes have enough respect for their coach to not cheat, which apparently some do not.
Salo should not be included in this in any aspect other than the University maybe not wanting Trojan associated with it anymore.
That is a ridiculous assertion. If a coach notices that his/her athlete is suddenly building more muscle mass, is training exceptionally well for an extended period of time, has noticeably more cardiovascular strength, then the coach should simply assume they got “lucky” with physically fit athletes, and not question how the athletes became this way? Especially at this elite level, a coach should be responsible for every aspect of a swimmer’s development, from their pool training to dry land to nutrition to sports psychology. With Michael Phelps, do you think Bob Bowman draws a line between what he is and isn’t responsible for? No, Bob Bowman owns every aspect of Michael’s athletic performance and understands that all of Michael’s issues… Read more »
I’m with BDL swim on this one. Maybe Salo is not to be blamed because she never told him, however, now that he knows how he responds will be VERY telling.
I have been an avid, daily follower of swimming websites/magazines/articles for years. I have never posted any comments before. I cannot tolerate the lack of response from coach Salo and/or USA swimming on this doping matter. I thought USA swimming sanctioned coaches who had multiple swimmers testing positive. I thought such coaches could not be given national/international positions. Other coaches as well as USA swimming need to speak out. I am embarrassed that our national swimming body points the finger at other coaches but can’t clean it’s own house. The other USC pro group swimmers will look suspicious to the world.
Jessica Hardy is another USC swimmer who tested positive.
The reason it really pisses me off is how it harms other swimmers. When Hardy got caught cheating, it affected Rebecca Soni, Kara Lynn Joyce, Tara Kirk, and Lara Jackson.
I don’t believe for a minute the crocodile tears of Hardy or silly “explaination” that clenbuterol accidently made its way into her supplement.
I say ban: Hardy, Efimova, Yang, Cielo, Salah, Palmer, etc. And its hard to take the Chinese seriously after the entire team was found with HGH going into Australia.
Yefimova denied Meilutyte an honest World Championship title.
The Efimova case seems fairly black/white and not really all that interesting as far as the science is concerned. Athlete ingested drug, she was tested, results were positive. We’ve all seen this movie a hundred times. I suppose Yulia will offer some explanation at some point but there’s no way it will trump the lab result. I imagine her explanation/excuse will be like all the others. Sigh.
The Hardy case though is an entirely different animal and way more interesting. I admit to being biased because I’m a USA swimming fan so please don’t shout at me but if learning about this stuff is of interest to anyone it’s worth taking the time googling Jessica Hardy Clenbuturol and spending… Read more »
Good riddance. I hope this is the end of Yuliya. 2 positive tests in 3 years is simply undeniable evidence that she is a conscious, consistent, and intentional cheater. Curious to see what other names are in the pipeline of 99 positive tests..
Helpful explanation of meldonium, communication of its addition to the banned list from WADA, and an athlete’s possible intentions for using it. Written by a physiologist and high performance sport consultant:
http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2016/mar/09/maria-sharapova-meldonium-banned-drug-wada
Salo, should not be allowed on the US Olympic Team IMO…
He is constantly tarred with dirty athletes, he is either incredibly stupid or incredibly greedy for the money these athletes bring! I think he’s both!
what money?
Gee, not too surprising. Check out the wikipedia page for meldonium with all the Russians that have taken this stuff. I sure hope we don’t hear that she’s got “a heart condition” (like Sun Yang- ha!!). Give me a break. Interesting that she got busted for 7 Keto dhea. That stuff is known to NOT convert to testosterone (like regular dhea) so I don’t see what good it would do as a PED. I guess it was used as a masking agent. All I know is this woman had better not be allowed to swim in the Olympics!
Again, this is not Salo’s first swimmer who tested positive over the past few years…
WADA needs to stop by USC and do some investigation. Clean the sport!
USC – Universal Standard of Cheating! NCAA may need to drug test those girls who got 2nd last night!