{"id":191693,"date":"2016-03-21T07:45:25","date_gmt":"2016-03-21T14:45:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/?p=191693"},"modified":"2016-03-21T07:45:25","modified_gmt":"2016-03-21T14:45:25","slug":"yulia-efimova-makes-statement-on-her-positive-test","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.swimmingworldmagazine.com\/news\/yulia-efimova-makes-statement-on-her-positive-test\/","title":{"rendered":"Yulia Efimova Says She’s Innocent; Claims She Stopped Taking Drug Before Banned Date"},"content":{"rendered":"

Last week, news broke that Yuliya Efimova<\/strong> tested positive for the banned substance meldonium and had been temporarily suspended by the Russian Swimming Federation<\/a>.<\/p>\n

Today, Efimova went public for the first time claiming that she stopped taking the drug prior to the January addition of meldonium to the banned list and that her positive test came because the drug remained in her system.<\/p>\n

Translation thanks to Maria Dobysheva.<\/p>\n

Dear friends!<\/p>\n

You’ve already heard I tested positive for a banned substance. That’s true. In February, the test I had in L.A. was positive for meldonium. I’m sorry you didn’t hear the news from myself. Someone leaked confidential information to the media.<\/p>\n

I’m sorry I caused my fans, my loved ones and my sponsors such major negative emotions. I’m a pro athlete and responsible for what I take into my system. Now I want to reveal some facts to inform you what has happened.<\/p>\n

First of all – I wasn’t warned that meldonium has been on the banned\u00a0list since January. No one warned me – nor Russian neither international bodies did. Neither vocal nor via email.<\/p>\n

Secondly – the last time I took meldonium was due to a doctor’s order and when it was legal. I made sure it was legal and read the description before treatment. Why it appeared in my system months after I stopped taking it, experts are figuring out now.<\/p>\n

Next – In my past, I had an accident and lost a year and a half of my career because of my negligence. Since then, I’m in a full control of what I take. And I can guarantee that all the meds and treatments I get are fully legal.<\/p>\n

I deny that\u00a0I’m a drug cheat. I and [my crew] are preparing for legal hearings and we will do our best to prove I didn’t cheat.<\/p>\n

Also,\u00a0\u00a0I will keep training with hopes I’ll be in Rio.<\/p><\/blockquote>\n