MOSCOW (Sputnik) — At the ongoing Rio Olympic Games, Russian swimmer Yulia Efimova, who won two silver medals, became the target of hostile attitude by US swimmers Lilly King and Michael Phelps.
"The organizer must stop the competition and tell the fans to stop discriminating against the athlete, otherwise the competition will stop. They must do this, but nothing was done, nothing was stopped. I always say that international organizations are not just overseers, they are also event organizers and operators. They must protect all countries and all athletes… And they are not fulfilling their functions," Mutko told R-Sport.
King slammed Efimova for being caught "drug cheating" and stated that she was "not a fan" of the Russian swimmer. Finishing first in the women's 100-meter breaststroke on Monday, King did not congratulate Efimova but hugged US swimmer Katie Meili, who won a bronze medal. Phelps also made remarks on Efimova's previous doping violation. The swimmer was also jeered by US team supporters during several Olympic events.
On the eve of the Rio Olympics, Efimova was cleared by the International Swimming Federation to take part in the competition, successfully winning her appeal against a doping ban imposed in July.
