Share

IOC head to ask Russia for help against anti-doping hackers

However, every athlete whose details have been leaked had the permission of the anti-doping authorities to take the substances revealed by Fancy Bears.

Advertisement

Hacktivists have released files claiming that top United States athletes received a green light from WADA to take banned substances.

Sir Bradley Wiggins and Chris Froome were among five members of the team which brought home 67 medals to have their records published following a hack of the World Anti-Doping Agency.

There is no suggestion the British athletes are involved in any wrongdoing, according to a BBC report.

A British Cycling spokesperson said: “As the national governing body for the sport in Britain and a supporter of the Wada code, we condemn the publication of any individual’s medical information without their permission”.

President Vladimir Putin says that while Russian Federation disapproves of the hack of medical files of Olympic athletes, their findings should attract public attention.

President Vladimir Putin said Friday that World Anti-Doping Agency documents leaked in a hack blamed on Russian cyberspies had raised “lots of questions” about medical exemptions that allow athletes to take banned substances.

Wada director general Olivier Niggli said: “Wada is mindful that this criminal attack will be very distressing for the athletes that have been targeted”.

On the Fancy Bears website, which CNN can not confirm as legitimate, the hackers offered a message this week that said in part: “Greetings citizens of the world”.

Methylphenidate, for example, is a stimulant that helps improve brain function in people with ADHD, but it could also help improve an athlete’s performance and is only allowed to be used by elite performers with medical approval.

This time, WADA said the hackers released data of 25 athletes from the United States, Germany, Britain, Czech Republic, Denmark, Poland, Romania and Russian Federation.

The IOC imposed a partial ban on Russian athletes competing in the 2016 Olympics, in contrast to the International Paralympic Committee, which imposed a blanket ban on Russian participation at the Paralympics.

It explained that it was likely in result to its pre-Olympic McLaren Report that exposed a state-sponsored doping system.

Athletes must meet strict criteria: they would suffer significant health problems without taking it, it would not significantly enhance performance and there is no reasonable alternative. “They were final conclusions, and not allegations, as was suggested by various organisations including the IOC”.

Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said it was wrong to connect the issue of cybercrime with Russia’s attempts to overcome the doping scandal around its athletes.

Under what circumstances do the WADA clear these athletes for therapeutic usage exceptions is a matter that needs to look into, the hackers say, adding that these exceptions could be basically a “license for doping”. They were among 25 athletes from eight countries whose TUE records were published on Wednesday, including those of two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova. The American could not provide a TUE certificate for it showing a medical need, so doctors from the US Postal Service produced a faked, backdated TUE claiming Armstrong needed the cortisone for a saddle sore.

“There are probably 40-50 athletes we are trying to make contact with”, said Ukad chief executive Nicole Sapstead.

Froome applied for TUEs at the time of the 2013 Critérium du Dauphiné and the 2014 Tour de Romandie.

Bradley Wiggins and Chris Froome were granted several TUEs for otherwise based substances.

As well as the two cycling stars, rugby sevens player Heather Fisher, golfer Charley Hull and rower Sam Townsend – all of whom competed in Rio last month – have had their exemptions for asthma medication leaked.

Froome says he has “no issues” with the leaks, pointing out he has spoken publicly about being granted TUEs before.

Advertisement

Froome took the steroid prednisolone to treat chest infections, while Wiggins took salbutamol to treat asthma.

WADA Director General Olivier Niggli said the leaks were'retaliation for the agency's role in'investigations that exposed state-sponsored doping in Russia