Russian swimmer Yulia Efimova failed her post-swim drug test for meldonium, a common Russian drug until the International Doping Agency banned the substance last year. Efimova, 24, previously served a 16-month suspension for doping and earlier this year failed a test for meldonium, but the recent suspension was overturned.
The drug tests were administered immediately after the swimming contest. The B sample will also be tested.
U.S. swimmer Lilly King narrowly beat the Russian and infamously wagged her finger towards the doping Russian. She passed the initial drug test and has never tested positive for doping.
The drug meldonium was common among Russian athletes until it was banned. It was the same drug tennis superstar Maria Sharapova tested positive for that lead to a year long suspension. Most Russian athletes have been ‘booed’ during the Olympic games, the ones that weren’t banned prior the event.