Olympic rowing gold medallist Kim Brennan Saturday said it was outrageous to link life-saving medical treatment to doping, after she was one of several Australians identified by computer hackers who have targeted the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
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The leak lists drugs taken under therapeutic use exemption (TUE) rules.
The medical records of the Rio gold medallists, plus those of silver medal-winning swimmer Siobhan-Marie O’Connor and rower Olivia Carnegie-Brown, were published on the website of the “Fancy Bears” group.
“This is an unacceptable and outrageous breach of medical confidentiality that attempts to smear innocent athletes who have not committed any doping offence”, Bach said.
“In the case of the three Australian TUEs leaked today, the athletes were approved to use medication to treat serious medical conditions, including allergic reactions and rheumatoid arthritis”. The agency is also in contact with the relevant NADOs and IFs whose athletes are impacted by this latest data release so that they can provide them with the necessary support.
“That is a huge security concern and something that I think we should be seriously anxious about”.
“We have also been in contact with the four most recently affected athletes and have offered our support”.
“We spent yesterday contacting Team GB athletes about the possibility of their TUE data being released and we will continue to keep our athletes and stakeholders apprised as more information becomes available”.
“It is incomprehensible that someone would use athletes’ personal information to try to undermine the global anti-doping system”.
She said the athletes named by Fancy Bears “have obtained TUEs through a robust and independent system”.
“In the group’s initial data releases, which WADA commented upon earlier this week, they threatened to release more data over time; and so, while this is regrettably unsettling for all involved, it is not unexpected and we must be prepared for more”.
The TUE shows that Trott was permitted to use the banned substances salmeterol and salbutamol which are inhalants commonly used to relieve symptoms of asthma.
“Stakeholders should know that WADA is being consulted and taking action based on intelligence and advice from the very highest levels of worldwide law enforcement”, a statement read. Friday’s leaks saw details revealed of Trott’s legitimate medical use of an otherwise-banned asthma inhaler, while history-making boxer Adams had her inhaler use and that of a corticosteroid disclosed.
And Adelaide-born cyclist Jack Bobridge, who has two Olympic silvers in the team pursuit event from 2012 and 2016, was named as receiving a TUE to allow him to take prednisolone from December 2010 after being diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis.
Sir Bradley Wiggins and Chris Froome were among five British names whose records were leaked by hackers on Thursday, along with golfer Charley Hull, rower Sam Townsend and rugby sevens player Heather Fisher. “But now it appears that doping is actually acceptable in some cases, under some conditions”.
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“That’s one area that probably needs to be looked at – how frequently are certain medicines being used in particular sports?”
