Vladimir Morozov, Nikita Lobinstev and Yulia Efimova have all called the California-based Trojan Swim Club home over the years, training under the tutelage of Head Coach Dave Salo, yet all 3 are now barred from competing in Rio.
Morozov and Lobinstev were both recently removed from the Russia Olympic roster due to being named in the “McLaren Report” as part of the ‘disappearing positives’ systematic scheme. Efimova was also eliminated from the Russian Olympic line-up for having a past doping suspension from 2014.
In the wake of the Russian doping scandal involving the removal of a total 7 swimmers from its Olympic rosters, Trojan Swim Club has, at least temporarily, made a change to its international swimmer policy. Until Salo can “somehow find a way to assure [the club] doesn’t have these kinds of problems”, international athletes are now suspended from participating in the Trojan Swim Club’s training program.
Salo tells SwimSwam, “I am suspending any international athletes from Trojan swim club for the near future until we can find a means to assure that anyone that trains with us is above reproach regarding the use of ped (performance enhancing drugs).”
“It is not enough to be tested regularly and randomly,” continues Salo to SwimSwam. “This applies to post grad athletes that are seeking an opportunity to train with Trojan swim club. Effectively this is in effect at the initiation of the new quad. ”
The rule, says Salo,”applies to any new athletes, but I will be reviewing our program as we move forward so that anyone that trains with me and my staff full understand my expectations for compliance to compete in our sport.”
As for the scandal of the McLaren report as a whole, Salo says, “They would be stupid to knowingly engage in doping. If it is found to be true then I am thoroughly disappointed. … If the doping problem in Russia is as egregious as the McLaren report suggests and to the extent that the athletes are pawns in the process then I would have to join the cry to suspend all Russian athletes from the Games.” (L.A. Times)
Both Efimova and Morozov are in the process of appealing their Olympic bans with the Court Arbitration of Sport.
Regarding Morozov, Salo told SwimSwam that, ” He [Vlad] has stressed to me, as I am well aware, that he is tested often while he trains here in the USA. He has stressed to me also that the inclusion of his name in the recently released McClaren report is surprising and he believes without merit. “
Chaises pour table
My name is Jason Block, I have been training with Trojan Swim Club for the better part of 3 years now. I don’t want to get into an argument with this comment, I am merely hoping I can set the record straight on a few items.
First off I want to stress that Salo is not involved in performance enhancing drugs of any sort. He is a swim coach, that is where his education and his experience are and that is what he is passionate about. If you want a baby sitter, he’s not your guy. If you want a nutritionist, he’s not your guy. If you want a weight coach, he’s not your guy. If however you want… Read more »
Yes yes Dave is good, but, by the admission of another Trojan swimmer above, Dave Salo violated FINA rules by training Efimova (quite likely also Mellouli, Hardy) during her suspension.
The thing is Southern California Swimming has their own set of rules. According to Bill Krumm, Sport Development Consultant – Western Zone USA Swimming, “SCS is run very different from most LSC’s, and I would suggest you contact their Executive Director (Mary Jo Swalley) for assistance”. Mary Jo is also heavily involved with the NCAA/Pac-12 meets. These people do whatever they want. They even placed rules in the rulebook to benefit UCLA and USC swimmers that “don’t apply” to other athletes. They even stack the board of review with Trojans – current board of review members are Jessica Hardy, Rebecca Soni and Ricky Berens. By chance if one does get a hearing, they hire Edwin Duncan, announcer for the USC… Read more »
Finally Mr Salo tries to clean the Trojan house.
As a follow up to Mon Cheri’s post, I think all those Russian swimmers Salo’ trained are Trojan horses, implanted by Russians to ruin Salo’s program and American way of swimming. It is time to ban all Russian swimmers from entering the country as there is a danger for all of us here. I would also ban Hungarian swimmers.
Let’s add Serbians to the list while we are making broad, sweeping comments.
Probably. But, Serbia and Hungary have same population and Hungary has 30 swimmers in Rio, Serbia 3. And Serbia is better in all other sports. You do the math.
They should train in their own countries.
Theres probably over 100 lcm pools in socal alone. We’ll share if you share somma your ‘secret sauce’ with us
The athletes aren’t the problem. The individuals violating Federal Laws to provide benefits to some athletes because of their exceptional talent are the problems.
The problem was exacerbated when Dave Salo became lenient to his swimmers who had been suspended.
Mellouli won Olympics gold a month after his suspension ended. Where did he train during his suspension? Who coached him? Because according to FINA rule, a USS or FINA affiliated coaches are not supposed to train swimmers under suspension.
Hardy broke 50m WR a couple of week after her suspension ended.
Efimova went 1:05 swimmingly also a couple of weeks after her (firts) suspension ended.
Dave Salo brought this to himself by tolerating the dopers too much, despite his public anti-supplement rethoric.
The more I’m reading about such facts the more I’m puzzled about coach Salo’s motivations: he either doesn’t care or he needs his swimmers to succeed to keep the prestige of his program high.
Please give me some other than terrible misfortune explanations of this pattern.
Mellouli tested positive for Adderall. I would hardly call him a doper. That stuff flies around every college campus.
On a case by case basis, each of the positive drug tests out of Salo’s camp has valid justification. I could be wrong, but I think both Kicker Vencil and Jessica Hardy won lawsuits on the basis that they unknowingly took tainted supplements. That said, he has an unusually high number of positive tests.
Adderall can be used as a masking agent – not saying it was – but that’s why he was banned.
They are a diuretic as a side effect. I think their use as masking agents is speculative
You just let a cat outta de bag. Almost everyone academically succesful under the age of 30 is assisted . This is the environment at USC that filters over to the sport clubs.
Did you not understand what I wrote?
USSwimming and FINA affiliated coaches are BANNED from coaching any swimmer under FINA suspension.
So how did those swimmers won Olympics gold, break WR, swam world’s fastest time etc merely weeks after the end of their suspension? Who was someone better than Salo trained Mellouli, Hardy etc during their suspension that resulted in fantastic times?
Yulia was at practice the day after her first ban, and trained under Salo for the entire ban. I should know, I was also there for that entire period.
That means both Efimova and Salo violated FINA doping control rules :
DC 10.12.2 Return for Training
As an exception to DC 10.12.1, an Athlete may return to train with a team or to use the facilities of a club or other member organization of FINA’s Member Federation during the shorter of: (1) the last two months of the Athlete’s period of Ineligibility, or (2) the last one-quarter of the period of Ineligibility imposed.
Actually, by allowing Efimova to train and use its facility during her suspension (term of Ineligibility), Trojan Swim Club as member of USA Swimming also violated FINA rules.
Yulia did not train with Coach Salo during the recent ban, and when she trained with him during her first ban, the FINA rule was not yet in place, so he did not violate that rule.
I agree with most of what you say. I know Dave Salo to be a very trusting and rational man and now hes in hot water for it. I am glad that he has taken some action to rid his team of potentially dirty swimmers but I feel banning all foreign swimmers is a bit of a Trumpian overreaction.
Not at all .Donald has an appreciation of foreigners including Miss Universe contestants . He personally has upgraded the cheekbone profile eg Ivanka Eric & Donald jnr . Tiffany is cute but without cheekbones & young Baron is a little young yet but he is very tall. If he inherits his mothers chekbones that will be 80% success rate.
GINA i know you’re trying to be funny and all but you really need to stop with these off-white, tacky, and offensive comments. They’re really in poor taste, especially talking about Donald Trump’s family- he has nothing to do with this conversation!
AND as for Dave “Soliciting funds” for the learn to swim program- let me clear the air. I am heavily involved in that program- in fact, I helped get it off the ground. It’s a non profit, which means you have to have donations to get the program to survive!! USC can’t just give him money to do this because it’s not in the USC school zone (it’s like a 3 block radius from USC and covers… Read more »
Quit discriminating against local swimmers.
Dave – you can replace those aliens with Dreamers. I could round up a few who can swim right there in your neighbourhood. Give them the chance !
Trojan Swim Club is open to all swimmers no matter their experience as long as they pay their dues. If any swimmer wanted to join Trojan, they have every opportunity that a foreign swimmer has. It’s not exclusively for foreign swimmers by any means. Also your remark of “alien” to describe these foreign swimmers is very disturbing. They’re here, LEGALLY, trying to achieve their dreams. Why persecute the athletes when swimmers like Kevin Cordes goes to swim abroad.
Calm down. Look up the definition of the word “alien.”
It’s a dig at Scientology
You are no fun .I used very much enjoy lining up at the Alien counter when I went to the USA.- if only they had selfies back in the 80s.
They did(still do?) an outreach program to teach swimming to the inner city kids near the university. I think you can find videos online about it.
YES Dave was soliciting for funds not so long ago. Let me see – how rich is USC ?
I will always be grateful to Dave Salo, Trojan Swim Club and USC for allowing my swimmer to join your program. As elite swimmers, they need someone to believe in them, in their capacity to do great things and to restore their resilience to step up to the plate time and again. Many come from international programs where the resources or coaches are not available. They may not always achieve their goals but Dave helps them to believe they have the capacity to get there! This has been an exceptional training program.
Please remember the achievements and the glory that many Trojan athletes have brought to USC swimming and the international swimming community. I am sad that the actions of… Read more »