Plymouth-based Olympic champion Ruta Meilutytesays she no longer sees world champion Yuliya Efimova as an “honest competitor” following her doping ban.
The breaststrokers shared one of the biggest rivalries in swimming, with Russian Efimova claiming two golds to Meilutyte’s one at the 2013 Worlds.
Her 16-month ban ended in March, and the pair will meet at August’s World Championships in Efimova’s homeland.
Meilutyte was “really disappointed” when Efimova failed a doping test.
“I used to really respect her as one of my strongest competitors and it was a great rivalry between us, but I don’t see her as a true honest competitor any more,” added the Lithuanian. […]
“It’s not like she’s been in the sport for a year, she’s competed for a long time and people know how cautious and careful we need to be with the substances out there,” Meilutyte told BBC Sport.
“I think it was quite a short punishment and I think people who take drugs should face harsher consequences.”
Since returning, Efimova has posted the quickest times in the world in the 50m and 100m breaststroke this year.
“If anything I’m more motivated because once you do drugs the effects can be for life,” said the Lithuanian.
“To beat her again is just going to mean a lot to me because I know I’m clean.”
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