Russian Olympic swimmer Yulia Efimova lashed out against her competitors Tuesday after she was booed on the podium while accepting the silver medal in the 100-meter breaststroke, accusing athletes who criticized her for doping of “using sport” to ignite a new Cold War.
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“It’s surprising that supporters from certain countries, who have five or ten dopers that had served bans for much more serious doping violations in their line-ups, do not boo their athletes”, he said. Asked if USA sprinter Justin Gatlin should be on the team after two drug suspensions, she didn’t back off. And she was going to take a stand.
Lilly King wants only clean athletes in the Olympics, even if it means banning her American teammates.
None of that sat well with King, the 19-year-old American competing in her first Games.
“This is another round, but I think we will survive it”, he told Reuters in an interview.
Efimova’s history is not quite equivalent to Phelps – she was suspended from competition in 2014 for six months after testing positive for a steroid hormone.
“I’m just happy for the U.S. to know I am competing clean and doing what is right”, King, 19, said during that same conference.
Efimova’s move to draw Phelps into a doping controversy will no doubt rile the American camp, who have been vocal in condemning drug cheats at these Games. King wagged her finger back and shook her head, and then proceeded to beat Efimova in the 100-meter breaststroke Monday at the Rio Olympics.
Yet there she was in the pool, trying desperately to overcome King’s early lead.
That’s when King let Efimova have it again. They said, “OK, honey, just do your best and we’ll get ice cream afterwards”.
“Of course I’m not for doping, and I’ve never used it on objective”, she continued.
But Americans were involved in the doping controversy as well, Tracy reports, and when asked if USA track stars Justin Gatlin and Tyson Gay, both of whom were previously banned for drug offenses, should be allowed to compete, Lilly King said no. “She is not a criminal and she competed because she was allowed to compete”.
“Reggie Miller, Indiana Pacers, followed me yesterday – that was a pretty big deal for me”, added the Indiana-born swimmer, referring to the former NBA basketball great.
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However, not all athletes agreed that the 2012 Olympic bronze medalist should be competing alongside them.
