World Olympians Association condemns Russian cyber hack

World Olympians Association (WOA) has condemned the actions of Russian cyber hacking group Fancy Bears and the public release of athletes’ confidential medical information. 

WOA believes that by illegally disclosing the private Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) records of athletes held on WADA’s Anti-Doping Administration and Management system the hacking group is seeking to intentionally tarnish the reputation of clean athletes.

WOA President Joël Bouzou said today: “WOA firmly believes in the need for transparency in the battle to protect sport from corruption. However, for sale  this illegal release of athletes’ private medical information is clearly designed to undermine the work of international federations and anti-doping bodies and damage the reputation of clean athletes. It cannot be right that clean athletes are seeing their good record unfairly questioned by innuendo.

“WOA wholeheartedly supports the need to sanction those who have been found guilty of doping infractions but athletes that can prove with certainty they are clean, ed by means of thorough and independent testing and through the proper use of TUEs, sale should not be punished or called into question. And clean athletes should never be prevented from competing at sporting events from the Olympics and Paralympics on down. 

“These latest developments are a reminder that the time is right for a debate on the future and that changes are needed in the anti-doping system which, in our view, is failing clean athletes.