US breaststroker King fears pandemic enabled dopers
OMAHA: US breaststroke star Lilly King, an outspoken critic of swimming’s efforts to control doping, says she fears the coronavirus pandemic has enabled cheaters heading into the Tokyo Olympics. “Definitely concerning, but especially with COVID,” King the 100m breaststroke gold medalist at the 2016 Rio Games and world record-holder at 50 and 100m, said as she prepared for the US Olympic swimming trials that started Sunday.
“I would definitely say some of the countries
that have not been as trusted are probably taking advantage of the time that they had without testing,” said King, who launched her trials campaign yesterday in the 100m breaststroke. “I know that I have been tested over 20 times in the past year, so I know the Americans are being well taken care of,” King said. “But I think, unfortunately, the Americans can control what they can control, but the rest of the world I’m not so sure.”
King has long been a critic of doping in the sport and international governing body FINA’s doping control efforts. After winning the 100m breaststroke final in Rio, the then-19-year-old King refused to shake hands with Russian silver medalist Yuliya Efimova, who had served a 16month ban for taking a banned steroid. While their rivalry has become less hostile, King says she still objects to racing against those who have served
bans - and would do so even if they are from the United States.
“My stances are clear,” she said. “I don’t think people should be cheating. I don’t know what the repercussions for doping bans should be. I think that’s up to the organizations. But I don’t want to race people who are cheating, who have served bans.”
USA Swimming president and chief executive Tim Hinchey also voiced concerns that a “blackout” on anti-doping measures in some areas during the pandemic, when competition shut down and lockdowns that limited travel and face-to-face contact disrupted out-of-competition testing. But he expressed optimism that FINA, under the guidance of newly-elected president Husain Al-Musallam, was moving in the right direction. —AFP