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Yulia Efimova withdraws from potential Lilly King rematch at short course worlds

Related Topics: Short course, Yuliya Yefimova

Russian Yulia Efimova announced Sunday that she will miss December’s world short course championships due to purulent tonsillitis, three days after rival Lilly King was named to the U.S. roster for the meet.

Efimova and King developed a rivalry in Rio, with the American saying the Russian shouldn’t have been allowed to compete given her doping history. King memorably finger-wagged at Efimova and beat the Russian in the 100m breaststroke.

Efimova took silver in both the 100m and 200m breast in Rio, adding to her 2012 Olympic 200m breast bronze.