The International Swimming Federation (FINA) has withdrawn meldonium abuse charges from Russian swimmer Yulia Efimova, the swimmer’s lawyer, Artyom Patsev, told TASS.
Efimova was suspected of using meldonium, a formula, which the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) included in its list of prohibited substances as of January 1, 2016.
Efimova, who is Russia’s 2012 Olympic bronze medalist in swimming, the four-time world champion and many times winner of European tournaments, announced in March that her doping sample taken in February had shown the presence of banned substance meldonium. The swimmer was suspended immediately from all international tournaments.
“We received an official notification from FINA just an hour ago that all the charges [against Efimova] had been dropped. She is free to compete. No punishment has followed,” Patsev said.
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Patsev said that he was “expecting FINA to take this decision”, especially after the 24-year-old breaststroke specialist had a temporary suspension lifted in May.
She was added to Russia’s roster for the games in June.
“We are all really happy for Yulia. She will join up with the team in Rio de Janeiro on 1-2 August,” Patsev concluded.
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