The Week That Was: Another Ban Lifted, More Olympic Teams Announced

Photo Courtesy: Delly Carr

Editorial Coverage Sponsored By FINIS

With the dust now settling from the U.S. Olympic Trials, the rest of world continues to move in preparation for Rio. This week saw doping bans placed and lifted and official Rio participant lists named. Check out all the stories from this week’s edition of The Week That Was below!

The Week That Was #5 – FINA Announces Aquatic Athletes Competing In Rio

Photo Courtesy: Michael Madrid-USA TODAY Sports

This week FINA began to release full lists of the athletes that will be competing in the aquatic events at the 2016 Olympic Games that will be held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The aquatic sports that are included in the Olympic Games include marathon (open water) swimming, synchronized swimming, diving, water polo, and swimming. While many countries already know who is representing them in Rio, (with the U.S. men’s and women’s teams among the last to be named last week) this helps give perspective the amount of global competition we will see at this year’s Olympic Games. For consistently updated participant lists and information related to the venues and competition dates, check back here.

The Week That Was #4 – Matt Josa Announces Transfer To Cal

May 15, 2015; Charlotte, NC, USA; Matthew Josa celebrates after winning his heat in the 100 LC Meter Butterfly during the finals at the Mecklenburg County Aquatic Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeremy Brevard-USA TODAY Sports

Photo Courtesy: Jeremy Brevard – USA TODAY Sports Images

Cal Bear fans got good news this week as Queens University standout Matt Josa announced that he was transferring to Cal Berkeley for his two remaining years of eligibility. Josa has been one of the most notable swimmers to come out of Queens University of Charlotte, competing for them from 2013-2015 before taking a redshirt year to prepare for Olympic Trials. During his sophomore season with the Royals Josa helped Queens to their first-ever NCAA Division II Championship. At that meet he was also awarded Swimmer of the Meet, setting DII records in the 200 IM, 100 fly, and 200 fly while also winning the 200 back. Josa was a finalist in the 100 butterfly at Trials last week, posting a best time of 51.61 to lead all qualifiers out of prelims. The versatile swimmer will find himself in good company at Cal, where Olympic qualifier Tom Shields and 100 butterfly finalist Seth Stubblefield both train.

The Week That Was #3 – Vitalina Simonova Suspended For Positive Test

Photo Courtesy: Maria Dobysheva

This week Russia’s Vitalina Simonova was suspended for four years related to a positive test for testosterone. The suspension will date back to June 19, 2015, nullifying any results she has had from that date to the present. The positive result for the banned substance came at an out of competition test while on a training trip in Greece. Simonova was notified of the positive test on November 2, 2015, and subsequently admitted to purchasing “Tesrosterol (sic) 250 by megabol (Poland) in a local athlete’s store,” and attributing the positive test to a contaminated batch of the supplement. The 24 year old is the current holder of the Russian short course meters record in the 200 breaststroke (2:18.03) as well as in the 4 x 100 medley relay. Both results were from 2014, so they will stand. Simonova’s positive test does not reflect well on Russian athletics, which has been under scrutiny over a rash of positive doping tests.

The Week That Was #2 – USA Water Polo Announces 2016 Olympic Team

Photo Courtesy: Jared Gray/USA Water Polo

The U.S. Olympic Women’s Water Polo Olympic Team Roster was announced this week by Head Coach Adam Krikorian. The list includes 13 athletes, with 4 returners from the 2012 Olympics including team captain and 2012 MVP Maggie Steffens. The 2012 performance by the U.S. women was the first Olympic gold in program history, and they will come into this Games at the number one ranked team in the world. The U.S. women have won every major international tournament since 2014. The United States will start off the Olympic competition on August 9, 2016 against Spain, who they faced four years in the gold medal match in London.

The U.S. Olympic Men’s Water Polo Team was also announced this week by Head Coach Dejan Udovicic. Of the 13 athletes that will compete for Team USA, four returners from the 2012 Olympic Team will be among them, including captain and Rio native Tony Azevedo. Notably, Azevedo’s selection makes him the first five-time Olympian in USA Water Polo history. The U.S. Men will open play in Rio on August 6 against defending Olympic champion, Croatia. Their last Olympic medal was a silver in 2008.

The Week That Was #1 – Park Tae-Hwan Doping Ban Overturned

Photo Courtesy: Peter H. Bick

After months of appeals and pleas to the Korean Olympic Committee, it was announced this week that Park Tae-Hwan will be allowed to compete in the 2016 Rio Olympics. Back in 2014 prior to the Asian Games, the 2008 gold medalist tested positive for testosterone and was given an 18 month ban. While he has completed that ban and would normally have been eligible to compete, the Korean Olympic Committee enforces their own additional 3 year ban on all doping violations. Park’s addition to the Korean roster is unexpected considering the committee’s stance on adhering to their initial ruling against him. The 26 year old has spent the last several months trying to get on South Korea’s official roster, going so far as pleading to be allowed to compete at the Games. This comes shortly after Russian Yuliya Efimova’s own doping suspension was lifted that led to her addition to the Russian Olympic roster.

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