Williams sisters, Biles targeted after WADA medical records hack
Image courtesy: AP
Russian cyber espionage group Tsar Team (APT28), a.k.a Fancy Bear, opened the Pandora’s box by hacking World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) Anti-Doping Administration and Management System (ADAMS) database.
The hackers made public the confidential medical data, naming the American athletes who have been given a leeway to use some of the banned drugs on the grounds of medical exemptions. The list includes the names of high profile athletes like Serena Williams, Venus Williams, Simone Biles, etc.
WADA has confirmed that its database has been hacked, while the Russian government has ruled out any possibility of their involvement in the hacking. However, the news was welcomed with enthusiasm in Russia, who faced a huge setback at the Rio Olympics this year, after hundreds of their athletes were denied participation following a massive doping scandal.
Simone Biles, whose name was featured in the list for taking Ritalin, responded to the allegations saying that she has been using the said drug since childhood, as she suffers from attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), and the same was approved under WADA’s therapeutic exemptions. Biles had a phenomenal Olympics debut in Rio, bagging five medals, including four gold.
Having ADHD, and taking medicine for it is nothing to be ashamed of nothing that I'm afraid to let people know.
— Simone Biles (@Simone_Biles)
September 13, 2016
Seven-time Grand Slam champion Venus Williams issued a statement, explaining that therapeutic use exemptions is a standard practice, and that she hasn’t flouted any rules.
“I am one of the strongest supporters of maintaining the highest level of integrity in competitive sport and I have been highly disciplined in following the guidelines set by WADA,” she said.
As the hackers have threatened to release more names, the hashtag #WADA has been trending on social media, with a majority of the people expressing their shock over the matter, arguing whether therapeutic use exemption is fair or not.
#WADA decides for whom doping is allowed & for whom it isn't. For US athletes it's fine. No politics here whatsoeverhttps://t.co/MeE1WGnGie
— Robin Monotti (@robinmonotti)
September 13, 2016
"Fancy Bear" ?#WADA ya know ;)https://t.co/aHwfjqlUC3 pic.twitter.com/yhiVqoDYgn
— 〠 Dominic H 〠 (@domihol)
September 13, 2016
#WADA justifies #doping "therapy" for overpumped Americans and forbids heart drug for Russian paralympians. pic.twitter.com/6yqCGAsKjQ
— Amitashi (@amitashi01)
September 14, 2016