Rio de Janeiro (AFP) – Russian doping whistleblower Yulia Stepanova said Monday she and her husband fear for their lives after an attempt was made to hack her World Anti-Doping Agency records.
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She said she has not been able to access either account, and she’s particularly anxious about the ADAMS account hack.
Russia’s track and field team was subsequently banned from participating in the Rio Olympics, but other athletes have been allowed to participate.
It is believed the Stepanovas, living in a safe location outside Russian Federation, were forced to move house again by the security breach.
Stepanova and her husband Vitaly are thought to be in hiding in the USA following their incendiary evidence to the Independent Pound Commission which revealed widespread state-sponsored doping by Russian Federation.
The IOC also declined to ban Russia entirely after a second WADA-commissioned report showed a complete subversion of the anti-doping rules and the cover-up of tests extending to the highest levels of Russian sport. “Stakeholders can rest assured that the agency takes IT security and data privacy very seriously”, it said, adding that law enforcement authorities had been contacted.
“We are taking every measure possible [to protect ourselves]”, Stepanova said.
The pair had first approached the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) about allegations of state-sponsored doping in Russian Federation.
Stepanova unveiled details that led to the discovery of a wide-ranging doping system inside her home country.
Although the anti-doping agency claims it locked the account immediately following the discovery, hackers may have been able to access key account info including the location of the athlete.
The two whistleblowers that helped expose Russia’s systematic athletic doping program are believed to be on the run again, reportedly looking for new safe haven in the United States after their whereabouts were compromised earlier this week.
Probably for the better, Stepanova said, considering the steady stream of stories about violence that have marred these games. “But hopefully the situation will quieten down and there will be a safer time for us”, she said.
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They themselves have paid it and continue to do so. The apparently successful attack on her account, therefore, means the hacker has information on her current, or most recent, location. “We plan to be together always”.
