Tokyo Olympic Organizer Accuses Of Unfairness, Russian Swimmer: Money Determines Everything!

Russian swimmer Yulia Efimova (Instagram @pryanya93)

JAKARTA - Russian swimmer Yulia Efimova accused the Tokyo Olympics of being unfair because a number of athletes were banned from competing. In addition, he also thinks that the organizers have severely restricted the movement of the current Olympic participants to the point that they have difficulty shopping for souvenirs.

In addition, he also criticized the organizers for making the final schedule for the morning swim just to meet the demands of US television prime time.

The swimmer, who is appearing in her fourth Olympics, was a controversial figure at the 2016 Rio Olympics after accusing her US opponent Lilly King of cheating on drugs. King is the women's 100m breaststroke gold medalist in Rio.

The Russian swimmer who was disqualified for 16 months from October 2013 to February 2015 after testing positive for the anabolic steroid, won the silver medal.

Efimova and King will meet again in Tokyo this Tuesday in the final of the same event.

"I am angry because it is impossible to go anywhere and many athletes are banned from this competition. This is an unfair Olympics, when not everyone can compete," he told the website www.matchtv.ru as quoted by Reuters on Tuesday. .

The 29-year-old swimmer did not explain the reason but a number of athletes were canceled from competing due to positive exposure to COVID-19.

Russian athletes competing in the Tokyo Olympics are also required to use the Russian Olympic Committee (ROC) because their flag and national anthem cannot be played following their doping offence.

"Unfortunately in our world, money determines everything! And they don't pay attention to the interests of athletes," he said, referring to the schedule for the morning race, which is very different from the Rio Olympics held at night.

"We will see better results if we race in the final at night."

"The world record is about to break. But it's also interesting because the unpredictable increases (in the morning)."

Efimova also took issue with the athlete's village which she called small and criticized the movement restrictions imposed by the committee.

"What bothers me the most is the gift shop that you can't go to. And if you go there, there's nothing. I like to bring gifts when I get home," concluded Efimova.