Russian swimmer Yulia Efimova has accused her foreign competitors of reigniting the Cold War by criticising her involvement at the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro.

The 24-year-old was initially ruled ineligible for the Games due to previously serving two bans for doping.

Swimming's world governing body FINA attempted to crack down on drug cheats after the McLaren report accused Russia of a state-sponsored doping programme, but Efimova was eventually given the green light to compete.

The Russian was booed by the crowd when she collected a silver medal on the podium after coming second to USA swimmer Lilly King in the women's 100m breaststroke final last night.

Prior to the race, King publicly criticised the decision to allow Efimova to compete in Rio.

In response to the negative reaction, Efimova told Tass: "I understand the people who didn't congratulate me because the media was full of fake stories about me, but on the other hand I don't really understand the foreign competitors.

"All athletes should be above politics, but they just watch TV and believe everything they read. I always thought the Cold War was long in the past. Why start it again by using sport?"

Efimova won bronze in the 200m breaststroke at London 2012.