Russian Olympic medallist gets arrested in Goa drug bust, here is all you need to know about swimmer Svetlana Varganova, her age and bio
The Narcotics Control Bureau (NCB) said on Saturday that Svetlana Varganova, a 1980 Olympic silver medalist in women’s swimming, and a former Russian policeman were two of the three people seized in a drug bust in Goa.
The other two people are an accomplice from India named Akash and a former Russian policeman named Andre, claims the NCB.
The ex-police officer from Russia has been identified as the “kingpin.”
Who is Russian swimmer Svetlana Varganova arrested during drug bust in Goa India: Biography, age, Olympic medals
As it's quiet here's a story from #Russia that's interesting!#India's Narcotics Control Bureau says it busted an international drug cartel in Goa. Two Russians were arrested, one reported to be 59yo Svetlana Varganova who was a silver medalist in breaststroke at 1980 Olympics.
— Tim White (@TWMCLtd) April 30, 2023
Andre, a former Russian police officer, has been identified as the operation’s mastermind.
The NCB’s Goa unit has been running the operation for the past two weeks.
The NCB claims that during a two-week operation, substances like LSD, cocaine, and marijuana were discovered following the arrests.
The NCB Official said, as reported by indiannarrativ.com:
Based on a tip-off that a Russian drug cartel was actively operating in Arambol and its adjoining areas in Goa, a probe was launched. As per the intelligence inputs, a Russian woman named S Varganova was found involved in the supply of drugs to foreign nationals. During the investigation.”
Who is Svetlana Varganova?
Svetlana Varganova was born on November 19, 1964 and is currently 58 years old. She is a former Russian swimmer who participated in the 1980 Summer Olympics.
She won silver in the 200-meter breaststroke with a time of 2:29.61.
A look at Svetlana Varganova’s career
Throughout her career, Svetlana Varganova competed in two significant international events: the 1980 Olympics and the 1982 World Championships, where she won silver in the 200 breaststroke.
At the 1982 Worlds, she won gold in the 200 breaststroke and bronze in the medley relay.
Varganova also established a world record in the 200-meter breaststroke during her career, clocking in at 2:31.09 in 1979.
In addition to the one Soviet title she earned at home in the 100 breaststroke in 1982, Varganova also won two silver and two bronze medals at the Soviet championships in the 200 breaststroke (1982โ83) and the 200 m breaststroke (1979, 1981).
After her athletic career was over, Varganova worked as a swimming coach in her native Leningrad (now St. Petersburg).
Personal Best: 100 m breaststroke โ 1:11.09 (1982); 200 m breaststroke โ 2:28.82 (1982).