Wiggins and Froome medical records released by 'Russian hackers'
15 September 2016
Hackers allegedly from Russia have released more athletes' medical files stolen from the World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada). The athletes include British cyclists Sir Bradley Wiggins, the country's most-decorated Olympian, and three-time Tour de France champion Chris Froome. There is no suggestion the athletes are involved in any wrongdoing. Wada says the cyber attack is an attempt to undermine the global anti-doping system. The records released by the group calling itself "Fancy Bears" mostly detail "Therapeutic Use Exemptions" (TUEs) allowing banned substances to be taken for athletes' verified medical needs. The group says the TUEs are "licenses for doping" and that Wada is "corrupt and deceitful". Wada Director General Olivier Niggli, strongly criticised the leak. "Wada is very mindful that this criminal attack, which to date has recklessly exposed personal data of 29 athletes, will be very distressing for the athletes that have been targeted; and, cause apprehension for all athletes that were involved in the Rio 2016 Olympic Games,"  he said. Mr Niggli said there was "no doubt" that the hack was retaliation against Wada for its report into Russian state-sponsored cheating and appealed to the Russian government to help stop it. The Russian authorities have denied any involvement. Dan Roan, BBC sports editor They may have been braced for it, but this second leak will dismay the anti-doping authorities. None of the athletes named has broken any rules, and several of the medical exemptions detailed were already known. But these leaks will intensify the debate around TUEs and force sport to ask itself some uncomfortable questions about the legal use of certain banned substances. Is the system being exploited by some athletes? Should TUEs be allowed at all, especially in competition? And given the lack of trust in sport now, is it time to make all TUEs public, even if it means athletes' private medical details are revealed? The documents relate to 10 American, five British and five German athletes as well as one athlete each from Denmark, Russia, Poland, the Czech Republic and Romania. Among the names is the Czech Republic's two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova and London 2012 discus gold medallist Robert Harting of Germany. The list also names 11 medallists from Rio, including American Bethanie Mattek-Sands, who won tennis gold in the mixed doubles. It follows an earlier leak of documents relating to US athletes including multiple gold-winning US gymnast Simone Biles. The records show that Wiggins was given permission to take two banned substances on several occasions between 2008 and 2013 during competitions including the 2011 Tour de France and the 2013 Giro d'Italia. One of the substances, triamcinolone acetonide, was taken for an allergy to pollen, according to the certificates. Froome was granted permission to take the banned steroid prednisolone on occasions between 2013 and 2014, including during the 2014 Tour de Romandie race. In 2014 French newspaper Le Journal de Dimanche reported that Froome had been given permission to take the steroid-based drug because he was suffering from a chill. The International Cycling Union said at the time that the TUE complied with Wada guidelines. In a statement, Froome said: "I've openly discussed my TUEs with the media and have no issues with the leak, which only confirms my statements. In nine years as a professional I've twice required a TUE for exacerbated asthma, the last time was in 2014." A spokesperson for Froome's Team Sky added: "Applications made by Team Sky for TUEs have all been managed and recorded in line with the processes put in place by the governing bodies." A spokesperson for Wiggins said: "There's nothing new here. Everyone knows Brad suffers from asthma; his medical treatment is British Cycling and UCI [cycling's governing body] approved and like all Team GB athletes he follows Wada regulations to the letter. "The leak of these records is an attempt to undermine the credibility of Wada." British Cycling said it was "proud" of its anti-doping culture. A spokesperson added: "We condemn the publication of any individual's medical information without their permission." The other British athletes whose records have been leaked are golfer Charley Hull, rugby sevens player Heather Fisher and rower Sam Townsend. Russia's track and field team were banned from the Rio Olympics over an alleged state-backed doping programme. All of its athletes are barred from the ongoing Paralympics. The Russian authorities have denied running a doping programme and maintain Russia is being made a scapegoat for a much larger problem. On Wednesday, Russian government spokesman Dmitry Peskov said it was "out of the question" that the Kremlin or secret services were involved in the hacking, while the country's sports minister Vitaly Mutko asked: "How can you prove that the hackers are Russian? You blame Russia for everything. It is very 'in' now.'' However, Peskov later said there was "no question" that Russia would be prepared to help Wada if asked. "Russia consistently backs fighting cybercrime, consistently invites all states and international organisations to co-operate in this area, and this position of Russia is well known," he added.
The documents relate to 10 American, five British and five German athletes as well as one athlete each from Denmark, Russia, Poland, the Czech Republic and Romania. Among the names is the Czech Republic's two-time Wimbledon champion Petra Kvitova and London 2012 discus gold medallist Robert Harting of Germany. The list also names 11 medallists from Rio, including American Bethanie Mattek-Sands, who won tennis gold in the mixed doubles. It follows an earlier leak of documents relating to US athletes including multiple gold-winning US gymnast Simone Biles.
7979_0
Who else has had their details leaked?
The records show that Wiggins was given permission to take two banned substances on several occasions between 2008 and 2013 during competitions including the 2011 Tour de France and the 2013 Giro d'Italia. One of the substances, triamcinolone acetonide, was taken for an allergy to pollen, according to the certificates. Froome was granted permission to take the banned steroid prednisolone on occasions between 2013 and 2014, including during the 2014 Tour de Romandie race. In 2014 French newspaper Le Journal de Dimanche reported that Froome had been given permission to take the steroid-based drug because he was suffering from a chill. The International Cycling Union said at the time that the TUE complied with Wada guidelines. In a statement, Froome said: "I've openly discussed my TUEs with the media and have no issues with the leak, which only confirms my statements. In nine years as a professional I've twice required a TUE for exacerbated asthma, the last time was in 2014." A spokesperson for Froome's Team Sky added: "Applications made by Team Sky for TUEs have all been managed and recorded in line with the processes put in place by the governing bodies." A spokesperson for Wiggins said: "There's nothing new here. Everyone knows Brad suffers from asthma; his medical treatment is British Cycling and UCI [cycling's governing body] approved and like all Team GB athletes he follows Wada regulations to the letter. "The leak of these records is an attempt to undermine the credibility of Wada." British Cycling said it was "proud" of its anti-doping culture. A spokesperson added: "We condemn the publication of any individual's medical information without their permission." The other British athletes whose records have been leaked are golfer Charley Hull, rugby sevens player Heather Fisher and rower Sam Townsend.
7979_1
What are the allegations against Wiggins and Froome?
Russia's track and field team were banned from the Rio Olympics over an alleged state-backed doping programme. All of its athletes are barred from the ongoing Paralympics. The Russian authorities have denied running a doping programme and maintain Russia is being made a scapegoat for a much larger problem. On Wednesday, Russian government spokesman Dmitry Peskov said it was "out of the question" that the Kremlin or secret services were involved in the hacking, while the country's sports minister Vitaly Mutko asked: "How can you prove that the hackers are Russian? You blame Russia for everything. It is very 'in' now.'' However, Peskov later said there was "no question" that Russia would be prepared to help Wada if asked. "Russia consistently backs fighting cybercrime, consistently invites all states and international organisations to co-operate in this area, and this position of Russia is well known," he added.
7979_2
What has Russia said?