Russian swimmer Julia Efimova commented on the recently announced four-year ban issued to Russia from the World Anit-Doping Agency (WADA) while speaking from New York City on Tuesday.

"I just, like, don't really understand how to do this in competition without my flag, without representing my country. For us, athletes, it's a big deal, really big deal," Efimova said.

Efimova had gone through a similar situation before during 2016 Olympics in Rio de Janeiro, when in 2013 she was barred from Games, but finally managed to compete and even win two silver medals. She went on to give advice to those athletes who don't know what to do after WADA's decision, saying they need to collect all the papers proving they had clean doping tests, "put all these papers together, go to a lawyer, bring all this stuff, and then probably lawyer will work [it out]."

On December 9, WADA's Executive Committee barred Russia from taking part in and hosting major sporting events, such as the Olympics, Paralympics and World Championships for four years on the allegation that Russian authorities tampered with data from a Moscow laboratory to hide potential doping cases.

Russian athletes who can clear themselves of wrongdoing will be able to compete under a neutral flag at the upcoming Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

Russia's Sports Ministry rejected allegations that state authorities were involved in a cover-up, offering its assistance to anti-doping bodies.