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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Stepanova’s account on the ADAMS database – which normally traces the location of athletes so random drug tests can be carried out – has been illegally accessed, the watchdog said. She then discovered that she couldn’t access her information on WADA’s online whereabouts system that is intended for the use of drug testers and administrators only, known by the acronym ADAMS (Anti-Doping Administration and Management System).
Stepanova and her husband, Vitaly Stepanov, along with their young child, have been in hiding since leaving Russian Federation in 2014 after providing information that formed the basis of the investigation into the country’s state-sponsored doping scheme.
The German television channel ARD’s two-part documentary, entitled Geheimsache Doping (Secret Doping Case) claimed that some Russian athletes had systematically taken on instructions from their coaches. Her testimony was a key factor that led to the suspension of the Russian athletics federation from the Summer Olympics now underway in Rio de Janeiro. “It should also be noted that WADA is in contact with the relevant law enforcement authorities”.
Stepanova is in hiding after helping to expose Russian state-sponsored doping.
“The agency confirmed that some users had received illegitimate emails that look as though they come from WADA, which ask users to click on a link and enter their personal credentials”, a WADA statement said. However, her whereabouts is likely listed in her WADA database account. “There we would feel unsafe”.
Yuliya said her only regret was not having reported the systemic doping earlier.
Stepanova served a two-year ban and admitted to being part of the Russian system for longer than that as part of the evidence she provided. The process eventually enabled the majority of Russian athletes to compete at the Summer Games.
The country has a team of 278 athletes competing here.
“[The IOC] never tried to understand our situation”, she said.
Meanwhile, IOC spokesman Mark Adams said revealed the organisation is coming under “regular attack”.
“We have no regrets we have chosen this path”, Vitaly Stepanov said. “We plan to be together always”.
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They themselves have paid it and continue to do so.
