Tensions on doping boil over
DOPING tensions in Olympic swimming erupted after American Lilly King beat tainted Russian rival Yulia Efimova and US superstar Michael Phelps demanded life bans for swimmers with a drug record.
Booing broke out in the swimming arena on Monday as Efimova – twice convicted of doping but securing an Olympic place on a last-ditch appeal – lined up to challenge the women’s 100m breaststroke final.
King narrowly beat her and then slammed her rival, stoking the controversy over revelations of Russian stated-sponsored doping.
“I think it just proved that you can compete clean and still come out on top,” King said of her win.
She had also criticised Efimova before the race.
Clearly devastated, Efimova burst into tears after the race.
Russia sprang to her defence, with Sports Minister Vitaly Mutko describing her as a “good girl”, according to Moscow’s R-Sport news agency. The attacks were described as a terrible ordeal.
The red-faced International Olympic Committee (IOC) sought to calm the choppy waters, saying the Games were about “respecting the right of others to compete”.
But King was joined in the war of words by US legend Phelps and Frenchman Camille Lacourt, among others who lashed out at a Chinese winner.
Phelps launched a broadside at drug abusers and encouraged others to speak out.
Phelps said those punished for doping should face permanent exile from the sport.
“I think you’re going to see a lot of people speaking up more,” the all-time highest Olympic medal winner said.
China’s Sun Yang, who won the 200m freestyle on Monday, came under fierce attack from a furious Lacourt.
“Sun Yang, he pisses purple,” an enraged Lacourt, who came fifth in the 100m backstroke, told French radio. “When I see the 200m podium I want to be sick.”
Sun has already been at the centre of a verbal battle with Australia’s Mack Horton, who beat Sun in the 400m race.
The Sun-Horton dispute has turned into a social media war.
China’s state-controlled Global Times newspaper called Australia a former British “offshore prison” because of Horton’s “drug cheat” remarks about Sun.
Efimova sought to defend her doping record.
“I once made a mistake and served my ban,” she said, referring to a 16-month suspension incurred after testing positive for the banned steroid meldonium in 2014. – AFP