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.
Advertisement
“If something happens to us then you should know that it is not an accident”, Stepanova said. “We are trying to take every measure possible to keep ourselves safe, which is why we moved”. At the same time, we realize that if somebody really wanted to do something to us, they would probably succeed.
At Rio, Russian athletes like swimmer Yulia Efimova have been on the receiving end of unforgiving censure following their return in the wake of the doping scandal.
Vitaly Stepanov said he did not know who had hacked his wife’s account but said the couple were being watched by Russian authorities.
“The only reason somebody would hack an ADAMS (WADA’s Anti-Doping Administration and Management System) account is to find out your exact location”, she said.
After an investigation into the hacking of Stepanova’s password, WADA said no other ADAMS accounts were accessed.
Stepanova told the BBC last month that she and her husband “would feel unsafe” in Russian Federation because “the reaction to our actions in our home country is not positive”.
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.
What followed led to a worldwide campaign to ban Russia’s athletes from the Olympics this year.
Stepanova, praised by the worldwide athletics body (IAAF) for her courage in stepping forward and revealing details on widespread doping in Russian Federation, is still an active athlete and had attempted to compete in Rio.
The 800-meter runner told reporters on August 15 that she and her husband have fresh concerns about their safety following the attempt to find her location by unknown hackers, and they made a decision to move after the incident.
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.
The country has a team of 278 athletes competing here.
“The Agency noted that someone, other than Ms. Stepanova, had accessed her account”.
Advertisement
They themselves have paid it and continue to do so.
