RUSSIAN FOUR-TIME BREASTSTROKE world champion Yuliya Efimova has been suspended from competition over alleged doping, Russia’s swimming federation said on Thursday, with media reporting she faces a life ban for using meldonium.
Russia’s swimming federation confirmed that it had received documents from the sport’s governing body “confirming the temporary suspension of the sportswoman from competition in connection with a possible doping rule violation”.
Russian media reported that 23-year-old Efimova — who won a bronze medal at the London Olympics and trains in the United States — faces a life ban after becoming the latest athlete to test positive for meldonium, a substance banned on 1 January. This could be a repeat violation, as she was banned for 16 months after failing a test for a banned steroid in October 2013.
The news of the suspension came as Ukraine’s athletics federation on Thursday said 800-metre runner Natalya Lupu would not compete at the 2016 indoor world championships for also using meldonium.
“WADA has some questions related to the use of meldonium for Natalya Lupu,” the federation said in a statement. “In connection with this it was decided to cancel Natalya Lupu’s trip to the Portland world championships.”
The fallout over meldonium exploded into public view when Russian tennis star Maria Sharapova admitted earlier this month that she had tested positive for the substance at the Australian Open in January.
The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) said last week that 99 athletes worldwide have tested positive for the drug since the ban came into force at the start of the year.
Meldonium is manufactured in Latvia and prescribed to treat heart disease. The drug is available as an over-the-counter medication in many parts of Eastern Europe but not approved for use in the United States by the Food and Drug Administration.
Russian President Vladimir Putin on Wednesday blasted sports officials in the country for failing to warn athletes in time that meldonium had been added to the list of banned substances.
Russian track and field is currently battling a separate doping scandal that has seen the the team suspended from competition over claims from WADA last year of state-sponsored doping in the sport.
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Now now let’s not jump to conclusions she may also have a long term heart condition…
Elite athletes are prone to high cholesterol so I heard yesterday. At this stage Russia should not be allowed compete at olympics
Something not right here. Beginning to believe that they just banned what drug was common for Russian Athletes. Might be something Political going on here that we are not aware of. Guaranteed American athletes are on similar drugs that are not on the banned list.
Yes, a lot of athletes were on it, but they were all warned that this drug banned as of the start of the year!
They were warned long in advance.
Meldonium seems to make girls beautiful :) carry on
A Russian athlete caught cheating??well I never!
What a disgrace. Shame on her.Cheat!
Ah but you assume too hastily. it’s not in your right to label her a cheat just because she took a substance that only became banned in january of this year, not 2015.
Conor read the article again , she was banned in 2013 for 16 months for steroid use so this does no look good for her as she is now a repeat offender
Yes. i’m aware of that Declan, but that’s in the past. She served her time away from the sport.
Yes. Undoubtedly it doesn’t look good for her, but you missed what I was stating. The substance only became banned THIS year, not 2015. How could anyone have known at the time in 2015 the non-legality of this substance? There’s a difference between knowing yet intentionally cheating and not knowing/understanding the abolishing of the substance.
What I’m saying is that people can’t label her a cheat and a disgrace like Stephen did because she clearly had no idea, like Sharapova, that it was to become banned.
In short, you can call her a cheat, but DO NOT do it in hindsight, because that’s classless.
Use the Michelle Smith excuse
Or blame the horse
It’s Russia today. Let’s not kid ourselves that every top nation is up to this. That’s why no cares about the Olympics. Apart from boxing and Sonia anyone who won a medal there has been suspicion of something going on.
Fine bit of gear
Fine bit of gear!