GB bronze medal winner Luke Greenbank questions whether or not he took half in a ‘clear’ race in 200m backstroke after Russian Evgeny Rylov claimed gold – and says uncertainty over doping on the Olympics is ‘irritating’
Luke Greenbank has questioned whether or not he was racing in opposition to ‘clear’ swimmers within the 200metres backstroke after profitable bronze behind Russian Evgeny Rylov.
The 23-year-old admitted it was ‘irritating’ that the Russian Olympic Committee have been competing at Tokyo 2020 regardless of the nation being banned over their state-sponsored doping programme.
Silver medallist Ryan Murphy was first to boost issues concerning the occasion having completed behind Rylov, who accomplished a 100m and 200m backstroke double with an Olympic document.

Luke Greenbank (R) questioned whether or not he took half in a ‘clear’ race after Russia’s Evgeny Rylov (C) secured a gold medal forward of USA’s Ryan Murphy (L)
However requested if he agreed with Murphy’s feedback, Crew GB’s Greenbank replied: ‘It’s clearly a really troublesome state of affairs not understanding whether or not who you might be racing in opposition to is clear. It’s one thing that’s a part of sports activities and the board must sort out that.
‘It’s a irritating state of affairs. I simply have to maintain my thoughts on the race and management what I can management.
‘I can’t actually converse on Ryan’s behalf. Clearly, there’s a number of media across the Russian federation coming into the Olympics. Clearly it’s irritating seeing that as an athlete, having identified that there’s a state-sponsored doping programme occurring and extra may very well be performed to sort out that.’

Greenbank, who got here third within the 200m backstroke, stated it was ‘irritating’ not understanding whether or not a fellow athlete had doped
In a rare press convention the place all three medallists have been sat collectively, Rylov was then requested outright if he doped.
The 24-year-old replied: ‘I’ve at all times been for clear competitors. I’m at all times examined. I’ll fill out the entire kinds.
‘From the underside of my coronary heart, I’m for clear sport. I’m devoting my entire life to this sport. I don’t even know methods to react to that.
‘Ryan has all the precise to suppose the way in which he does and to say no matter he says. That is at the moment and right here that we reside. We don’t reside previously, we don’t reside sooner or later.

Silver medalist Ryan Murphy opened the dialogue about whether or not the race was ‘clear’, saying his ideas would ‘get me into a number of hassle’
‘The time will inform. He didn’t accuse me of something, that’s the reason I don’t have something in opposition to him as a result of he didn’t put up forth something in opposition to me immediately.’
Rylov clocked 1min 53.27sec to the touch out Murphy by simply 0.88sec, with Greenbank ending in a time of 1:54.72 in a repeat of the consequence on the World Championships in 2019.
Questioned instantly after the race if he thought the race was clear, Murphy replied: ‘I’ve acquired about 15 ideas. 13 of them would get me into a number of hassle.
‘It’s a large psychological drain on me to go all year long (considering) that I’m swimming in a race that’s in all probability not clear, and that’s what it’s.
‘The people who know much more concerning the state of affairs made the choice they did. It frustrates me, however I’ve to swim the sector that’s subsequent to me.
‘I don’t have the bandwidth to coach for the Olympics at a really excessive degree and attempt to foyer the people who find themselves making the choices that they’re making the improper choices.’

Rylov expressed his innocence after the race, stressing that he’s ‘at all times examined’ and believes in clear sport
Following it up in his press convention, Murphy added: ‘To be clear, my intention is to not make any accusations right here.
‘On the finish of the day, I do consider there may be doping in swimming. I feel FINA must be extra clear each on the monetary facet and the drug taking facet.
‘There’s people who know much more about this example than I do. I’m coaching to be the completely finest athlete I might be. So I don’t have time to become involved on this state of affairs.
‘However there’s a state of affairs and that’s an issue. I’m sorry that there’s a state of affairs however I don’t know sufficient about it to present a 100 per cent sure reply.’
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