Seven Russian swimmers, including its most decorated active swimmer, are ineligible for the Rio Olympics, the sport’s international governing body said Monday.
FINA ruled out of Rio reigning world 100m breaststroke champion Yulia Efimova, plus Olympic or world championships medalists Vladimir Morozov, Nikita Lobintsev and Daria Ustinova.
Efimova, who has previously served a doping ban, was ruled out after the International Olympic Committee mandated Sunday that any Russian who has previously served a doping ban is ineligible for Rio.
Efimova’s agent said she would take the matter to the Court of Arbitration for Sport if she’s ruled out of Rio, according to Russian media.
Efimova ranks No. 2 in the world this year in the 100m breast, behind U.S. Olympic Trials winner Lilly King, and No. 2 in the 200m breast, behind Japan’s Rie Kaneto. Efimova took 200m breast bronze at the 2012 London Olympics.
Morozov, Lobintsev and Ustinova were barred by FINA for corresponding to doping samples mentioned in an independent report into Russian doping published last week.
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