USC and Trojan Swim Club coach Dave Salo had some words of support after Russian breaststroker Yulia Efimova tested positive for meldonium and could now face a lifetime ban as a result of her test failure. Efimova, one of the world’s top breaststrokers, trains with Salo at USC.
NBC Sports reports that Salo has told the media about Efimova’s desire to try to fight the impending consequences. As for himself, the USC coach claims that he has never encouraged or even suggested the use of performance-enhancing drugs for any of his swimmers.
According to Salo, once the 23-year-old Efimova learned about meldonium’s new status as a banned substance back in December, she stopped taking it.
“Yulia stopped taking it [meldonium] in December when it became evident it was going to be on the banned list,” said Salo. “She sent me a text almost immediately yesterday and tried to assure me that she hadn’t done anything since December.”
Meldonium was named a prohibited substance on WADA’s list last year, but the ban officially went into effect on January 1, 2016.
Salo also says that he has never given his swimmers any sort of performance-enhancing drugs.
“It’s not coming from me, it never has come from me,” Salo said. “I don’t think kids need supplementation of any sort. I’ve never counseled kids to take anything. They know my stance on it.”
This isn’t the first time Efimova has seen trouble with doping– in 2013, she tested positive for the steroid DHEA and as a result was stripped of 2 world records and 5 international medals from earlier competition. According to NBC Sports, Salo plans to meet with Efimova upon his return to USC after the NCAA Women’s Swimming & Diving Champs in Atlanta.
“Her text was, ‘Please believe me. I didn’t do this on purpose,’” he said. “I believe her. She’s culpable to the extent that she has a lot of other people in her ear.”
Efimova, who trains in Southern California with Salo, has put down the fastest 100 meter breast time this season. She now faces a penalty that could be as severe as a lifetime ban from the sport.
I don’t know about other swimmers but I truly believe that Hardy took a supplement that she had checked to see if it was legal. She tested at a very low level. After she served out her suspension she returned and was at top world level. She did a clinic for our team. She has trouble keeping on weight so one of the reasons she was using a supplement.
Salo knew she was taking this drug and was ok with it…. HE didn’t think it was on the ethical side of cheating??? I would love to have all of his other swimmers tested to see if they were taking this PED before it was banned. Sure it wasn’t banned, but they were still using something to make them better which was only not banned because WADA didn’t know about it yet…..
Wouldn’t be surprised of Soni was on it, and Mellouli, and Hardy and every other swimmer he coached, they are just as dirty if you ask me. He is such a dirty coach, he should be banned!!!! This is the problem, the money for cheaters is always… Read more »
Many seem quick to condemn here. The Big Question: Was the use of Meldonium banned as of January 1, or having it in your system after January 1? If it was legal to take on December 31, it’s not realistic to expect it to vanish from your system on January 1. There should be a grace period for getting it out of your system, perhaps with each test showing a lower level.
Well that, or the swimmer should check the banned substance lists in September, and stop taking them when it ACTUALLY became apparent that Meldonium was going to be banned, not the imaginary December date she claims. So either she is a complete and utter idiot (I doubt this), or she pushed it to the limit, and got caught out.
But above all (and this really bothers me). It’s never her fault. How many times can someone get caught out and plead ignorance. The first time is questionable, the second time is downright criminal!
Apparently quite a few Russian athletes have heart problems. What a shame.
Here’s a question – what does USC do? Is this really the coach for the program where these issues keep popping up?
Methinks he doth protest too much. Surely, Salo realizes that several of his swimmers have been pinched. I don’t know the man or the program first hand. But doesn’t this sound like “I never had sexual relations with that woman”. It’s getting by on a technicality. He didn’t tell anyone to take anything. Doesn’t seem like he told anyone not to take anything either. Dusty Baker didn’t tell Sammy Sosa to juice to the point where his head grew three hat sizes. Didn’t seem to want to question how he was hitting 500 foot homeruns with regularity either.
Maybe after the 2nd or 3rd person got nabbed, you sit down with your team and say:
1) I want… Read more »
Salo just admitted he knew Efimova was taking a PED before it was banned. I forget, who was Jessica Hardy training with when she got busted for doping?
Let’s not forget these aren’t victimless crimes. Efimova’s victims are Ruta Meilutyte and whoever got 4th at the World Championships. Hardy’s victims are Lara Jackson, Rebecca Soni, Kara Lynn Joyce, and Tara Kirk at the Olympic level. Not cool at all. No more Shirley Babashoffs. We need to ban cheaters or lose credibility like cycling.
+ 1
I’m in 100% agreement and couldn’t have said it better.
One point, though, and I’m sure it sounds a bit pedantic: Shirley Babashoff and the US women weren’t the only victims in 1976. A number of Canadian women – Shannon Smith, Nancy Garapick, Cheryl Gibson & Beckie Smith – had home country Gold Medals stolen from them. I can’t help but wonder what the profile of our sport would be here in Canada had that not happened.
It would have made Nancy Garapick a national heroine with TWO gold medals in backstroke. Cheryl Gibson winning a gold medal in the 400IM. Shannon Smith winning silver in the 400 free. Canada’s relays winning silver medals. On and on. Canada was ripped off in their own home games.
Good point. Plus, Brigitha from the Netherlands would have been the first black woman to win an individual gold medal, gold in the 100 free, plus a silver behind Babashoff in the 200. Way back in ’76.
Correction to my previous comment, Brigitha of The Netherlands (via Curacao) would have been the first black swimmer of either sex to win individual Olympic gold, not just the first black woman. And Tom, and M Palota, I just realized Canada would have swept the 100 back medals in ’76: Garapick, Cook-Hogg, and Gibson!!
The good news, or silver lining, at least, is that Brigitha was quoted as saying that she considers herself an Olympic Champion. She moved back to Curaco in the 90’s and still runs a swim school she started there.
It was not a banned substance prior to this year. So are all coaches whose swimmers use caffeine guilty? What about energy drinks or vitamin water used by just about every age group child to assist with hydration? How many guilty parties are out there?
please read the doping code before you make such comments ignorant of facts
I am not ignorant of facts. My point is simply that an athlete using a substance like caffeine that is not a banned substance is not violating the code.
unfortunately, Poolside, you are a bit ignorant here. Caffeine is a banned substance. So long as the concentration of caffeine is above a given threshold. It is only banned in-competition. Out of competition, it is not even tested for. The same goes for energy drinks (guarine, taurine, etc…) above certain thresholds they are absolutely banned substances.
You can learn more than you ever want to know at usada.org.
Poolside, these athletes were using the drug for off market purposes. It is not sold in the US, etc. The Russians are inveterate cheaters. Maybe the athletes here in the US are better, but the Russians, including Sharapova, are the ones testing positive this time around.
We need to ask Effimova why she took a drug banned in the US. Someone 8 generations back was diabetic or had a propensity towards diabetes? Someone, a brother or sister, or maybe a second cousin in Siberia, or perhaps her dog in St. Petersburg, was short of breath?
Poolside, you are missing the point. Effimova and Sharapova – two Russian women – were using the drug for something it was not intended… Read more »
That’s an idiotic comparison.
Tom, I guess that before it was banned it was not a PED, I guess. What makes this even worse is that she was using it longer than the traditionally prescribed time, for secondary uses, AND the drug testing authorities told whomever they should have that they were looking into the stuff for a year before it was banned.
Efimova was foolish or stupid or tempted fate. My guess is all three.
And track.
@swimfan that’s a pretty big accusation to make of someone who has never been suspected of doping. I would consider that comment out of line. Where is the moderation?