Cumbrian star Luke Greenbank spoke of his "frustration" at the doping questions surrounding swimming after winning a bronze medal in Tokyo.

The Cockermouth swimmer came third in the 200m backstroke final to claim Team GB's sixth medal at these Olympic Games.

Post-race interviews then saw silver medallist Ryan Murphy, of the USA, suggest that the race was "probably not clean".

Greenbank, 23, also said it was a "difficult situation" taking part in races under a cloud of uncertainty regarding doping.

Gold was won by Russian Evgeny Rylov.

Neither Murphy nor Greenbank accused Rylov of doping - but their comments came in light of Russia having been hit with a two-year international sport ban over a state-sponsored doping programme.

Russian athletes who have proven they were not involved are allowed to compete under the Russian Olympic Committee name.

Greenbank, who started out at Cockermouth Swimming Club, was asked in a press conference for his view on Murphy's comments, after the American said his thoughts on the subject "would get me into a lot of trouble" and that "it is a huge mental drain on me to go throughout the year, that I am swimming in a race that’s probably not clean and that is what it is.”

The Cumbrian said: "It's obviously a very difficult situation not knowing whether who you are racing against is clean.

“It is something that is part of the sport. And more needs to be done to tackle that."

"It’s a frustrating situation. I just need to keep my mind on the race and control what I can control.

"I can’t really speak on Ryan’s behalf. Obviously, there’s a lot of media around the Russian federation coming into the Olympics.

"Obviously it’s frustrating seeing that as an athlete, having known that there is a state-sponsored doping programme going on and more could be done to tackle that."

News and Star: Evgeny Rylov (photo: PA)Evgeny Rylov (photo: PA)

Rylov categorically denied he's doping and said he had "always been for clean competition".

Murphy later said he was only talking about doping in swimming in general and was not making specific allegations.

“At the end of the day ... I do believe it [doping] is still big in swimming and it is what it is," the USA man added.

Greenbank, meanwhile, said it was a "dream come true" to win bronze.

He became Team GB’s first ever 200m backstroke medallist. 

“I don’t think it has quite sunk in yet though I am sure it will. I am over the moon with that, the race was a really good one,” he said. 

“The main feeling is relief, just to come here and swim close to my best and get a medal is a dream come true. It would be great to go faster every time I swim but it doesn’t work like that. 

“I stuck to my race strategy, I knew what I was doing going into the race and to hit another 1:54 is another win.  

“It is quite a big occasion and I try not to let the nerves get the better of me, I tend to swim best when I have a cool head and I know what I am doing. 

“Here, it is all about positions rather than times and it is a very unique situation where by we have finals in the morning so it is not comparable. 

“I am happy with the time and the race.” 

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