Yuliya Efimova’s Agent: “We Haved Filed Request To Lift Temporary Suspension”

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Photo Courtesy: Maria Dobysheva

Editorial Coverage Sponsored By FINIS

By Maria Dobysheva

With WADA announcing a historic amnesty to those athletes who only had trace of meldonium in their system, Yuliya Efimova, who was temporarily suspended for meldonium positive test, filed a plea to FINA today to lift her suspension – just in time so that she can swim at Russian Nationals start Saturday.

Efimova has already left U.S., the country where she’s been living and training since 2011.

Under FINA rules, she couldn’t continue her training due to the suspension – she came back home and was waiting for FINA following decision in Russia. She was going to attend Russian Nationals as a viewer anyway, but with today’s WADA announcement she may have a different option.

“We don’t know if Yuliya even swims at Olympic Trials. She has not trained since March, going through huge stress, in addition she’s been sick and doesn’t feel well. Even if FINA agrees to lift her suspension in due time it is still not clear whether she would swim at Trials.” said her agent Andrey Mitkov.

Efimova has already met qualification standards for Rio through her swims in Kazan. She still may join the Olympic team even if she misses Trials. On the other hand, if other swimmers qualify for Rio and Efimova gains permission to swim under the new WADA decision, Russian Swimming will have to eliminate one.

“Just to make it clear – we are not talking about her return to competitive swimming and participation in Olympic Games as a matter of fact – otherwise, we want to stop those who think it’s a solved case. It is not and we still have lot of work ahead of us. Efimova is not amnested yet. Anyway, all the four samples she had contained minimal trace of meldonium (far less than allowed 1 mcg) and we are positive we have good chance to win the case. It’s very important that WADA made a statement supporting athlete’s rights to vindicate themselves. We are thankful to many people who have been working to make it happen”.

Full Sport-Express.ru article.

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