American Lilly King calls out Russia’s Yuliya Efimova for ‘drug cheating’
American swimmer Lilly King didn’t mince words when asked for her thoughts on one of the Olympics’ most controversial participants.
Russia’s Yuliya Efimova initially ruled ineligible for Rio as a result of her country’s doping scandal but a last-minute appeal on Saturday cleared her to compete.
Efimova and King both swam in the semifinals of the 100m breaststroke on Sunday night. After Efimova won the first semifinal race, she held up one finger. King, watching from inside the arena, was seen wagging her finger in response.
After winning the second semifinal, King made the same gesture and was asked about it by NBC’s Michelle Tafoya.
“You’re shaking your finger No. 1, and you’ve been caught for drug cheating. I’m just not a fan,” King said.
King’s semifinal time was .02 seconds faster than Efimova’s. They will face each other in the final on Monday night.
