Russian swimmer Yulia Yefimova, who won a bronze medal at the London Olympics, has been banned for 16 months by the sport's governing body FINA for a doping offense.
The 22-year-old breaststroke specialist tested positive last October for the anabolic steroid 7-keto-DHEA, which speeds up metabolism and helps with weight loss, at an out-of-competition sampling in Los Angeles.
"The FINA Doping Panel decided according to the FINA DC Rule 10.5.2 to impose on the athlete a period of 16 months ineligibility, starting on Oct. 31, 2013 and ending at the conclusion of 28 Feb. 2015, for her first anti-doping rule violation," FINA said in an official statement.
Yefimova is not planning to appeal the decision, citing the costs involved and the absence of any guarantee that the ban will get overturned, website Sport Express reported Tuesday.
Yefimova has won three long course world championship gold medals and currently holds short course world records in both the 50 and 200 meters breaststroke.
Material from the Moscow Times was included in this report.
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