Stepanova has been in hiding in the United States with her husband Vitaly, a former Russian anti-doping official, after giving evidence that the Russian government for years facilitated widespread cheating across almost all Olympic sports.
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Athletes are required to enter their location details in their WADA accounts along with a fixed time in which they can be tested for doping each day in out-of-competition routine tests.
WADA explained that it is contact with “the relevant law enforcement authorities” and that it has always been a target for hackers.
Her whistleblowing and a subsequent investigation helped WADA, the World Anti-Doping Agency, and IOC, the International Olympic Committee, suspend the Russian Federation’s athletes from this year’s Rio Olympics.
As a result Russia’s track and field team has been banned from the Rio Olympics while all Russian competitors in other sports had to prove they were clean by meeting several criteria in order to be eligible to compete in Brazil.
WADA confirmed on Saturday that Stepanova’s password for WADA’s Anti-Doping Administration and Management System (ADAMS) was illegally obtained, and her account in the system hacked into.
In early 2013, Stepanova was disqualified for two years for breaching anti-doping regulations, and the suspension term expired in late January, 2015.
Russian athletics whistleblower Yulia Stepaonvoa has admitted she fears for her life following revelations hackers have tried to find her new address in the United States. She will continue training with hopes of competing in races this winter.
WADA has now admitted that Stepanova’s account on the organisation’s Anti-Doping Administration and Management System (ADAMS) was hacked, most likely by those wishing to ensure she sees “justice” in Russian Federation.
The IOC considered banning all Russian athletes from the 2016 Games over doping allegations, but ultimately chose to leave the final decision to global sports federations. “So we decided it would be safer if we relocate”.
By speaking out, Yuliya said, she never wanted to harm the athletes or her country.
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The couple said they have already made arrangements for people to take care of their toddler son if something does happen to them.
