Belarus’ Aleksandra Herasimenia will not be swimming at this year’s World Championships, which begin Sunday in Barcelona, Spain. That’s major news that knocks out a huge medal contender in multiple events.
Herasimenia was the silver-medalist at the Olympics in both the 50 and 100 meter freestyles, and was the co-world champion in 2011 in the 100 free, but won’t swim those races, or any other, in Barcelona.
The Belarusian, who has revived her career after an auspicious doping ban early-on, is ranked 4th in 2013 in the 50 free, 3rd in the 100 free, 10th in the 50 back, and 5th in the 50 fly, and had an outstanding chance to medal in all of those events.
With that absence, Australian Cate Campbell and the Netherlands’ Ranomi Kromowidjojo become even bigger favorites to win the two sprint freestyles, in some combination, with the likes of Missy Franklin and Fran Haslall still lurking to potentially play spoiler.
Herasimenia’s absence is still unexplained; after all, she swam at the World University Games just a few weeks ago and swam quite well (just as she did in the lead-up to the 2011 World Championships).
No,no, no… Herasimenia said about not swimming at World Championships around july, 5-7 to the belarusian newspaper.
Something tell me it was political decision, but…
Perhaps Belarus has no spare Euros.
WUG may have been more attractive because political favours can be traded eg …
Russia says send that fast girl & we will cover the cost & for that you can do this for us…..
This may hold the key:
Apparently, in the last few days, FINA has conducted hundreds of blood tests involving swimmers, water polo, divers, synchro.
Then we will be assured swimming is 100% clean..
PED-happy track & field has a history of those kinds of sudden and mysterious ‘injuries’ right before WADA hits the scene.
Given her previous suspension for steroids, and the info shared by ASwimfan, this is highly suspicious either for a positive test, or a fake illness or injury to prevent testing positive. I don’t know what the rules are exactly, but if she does test positive again for anything, she should be banned for life. If she didn’t, she will still always be suspected for this now–once you’re caught cheating the stigma never goes away, for better or for worse.
Yes, this is clearly the biggest shock when the start list was announced.
So many questions.
Did she just get injured in the past few days?
Is she ill?
Were there doping test in WUG?
Has the results of the test been announced?