Yuliya Efimova was among home winners on the opening day of the Moscow World Cup ©Getty Images

Controversial Russian Yuliya Efimova was among home winners on the opening day of the International Swimming Federation (FINA) World Cup at the Olimpiysky Sports Complex in Moscow as Hungarian star Katinka Hosszú claimed three gold and three silver medals.

Efimova was banned for 16 months in 2013 after failing for the anabolic steroid hormone DHEA the previous year. 

She also tested positive again this year for meldonium but was cleared of wrongdoing by FINA due to a lack of proof over whether she had taken the substance before or after it was banned on January 1. 

The four-time world champion was then belatedly given permission to compete at the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro the week beforehand after successfully appealing an attempt to bar convicted Russian doping cheats, winning two silver medals, despite criticism from fellow athletes.

She claimed the 100 metres breaststroke title in the Russian capital today with a time of 1min 02.91sec to secure her first victory of the World Cup series.

United States' Katie Meili clocked 1:03.36 for second and Rie Kaneto placed third in 1:05.47.

Efimova also finished third in the 200m individual medley, clocking 2:06.79 to finish behind Hungarian duo Hosszú, first in 2:05.60, and Zsuzsanna Jakabos, who managed 2:06.69 for second.

Triple Olympic champion Hosszú had entered all 17 events across the two day competition and claimed an impressive six medals today.

She also beat Jakabos into second again to win the 200m freestyle, by over a second in 1:54.40 to her rival's 1:55.46, before three second place finishes.

Katinka Hosszú continued her dominant form on the World Cup circuit ©Getty Images
Katinka Hosszú continued her dominant form on the World Cup circuit ©Getty Images

Denmark's Jeanette Ottesen beat her in the 100m butterfly before Ukraine's Daryna Zevina got the better of her in both the 50m and 200m backstroke events.

Hosszú had taken an early lead in the latter before Zevina charged through to win by 0.77 seconds in 2:00.47.

The Hungarian completed her day in style, however, winning a thrilling dual with Britain's Hannah Miley in the 800m freestyle.

She took the lead after 650m before battling clear to touch in 8:26.24, followed closely by Miley’s 8:27.75.

Vladimir Morozov was another home winner as he triumphed in 46.36sec in the 100m freestyle final. 

Cameron van der Burgh claimed a South African victory in 25.88 in the 50m breaststroke and compatriot Chad Le Clos won over 200m butterfly in 1:49.10.

Other winners included Australia's Mitch Larkin, who took the men's 100m backstroke in 49.62, Britain's James Guy, who claimed 400m freestyle honours in 3:40.70, and Germany's Marco Koch, with a time of 2:01.94 in the 200m breaststroke.

Action is due to continue with a second and final day of competition tomorrow.