Janis Saltans, a former Latvian champion, spoke out in a 22-minute video this week about his clenbuterol doping suspension. He says he’s never been clearly informed of whether he is banned for two years or four.
You can watch the video above, courtesy of Latswim TV on YouTube. Saltans was one of Latvia’s most promising young swimmers, setting national records and representing the nation at the Youth Olympic Games in 2014. In 2015, he verbally committed to the Indiana Hoosiers as a key international pickup. But in late 2015, he tested positive for clenbuterol, a banned substance, and banned from competition.
Saltans says FINA sent him a letter informing him of a two-year suspension, but says he understands through WADA’s website that he is banned for four years. Saltans says in the video that he is only a student now, but might return to swimming down the road if he is eligible.
The video is in Latvian, but has English subtitles. You can watch it above. Saltans also talks about his swimming background and Latvia’s new swimming federation president. (Former president Kaspars Pone, who defended Saltans against the doping allegations and says Saltans took clenbuterol unknowingly, was removed from his post in late 2016). He talks about the doping allegations, specifically, about 10 minutes and 45 seconds into the video.
You come from a small country like Latvia, you get 2 to 4 years. You come from China or Brazil, you get 3 months, or less.