MONACO, September 22, 2016 - WorldOlympians Association (WOA) has today condemned the actions of Russian cyberhacking group Fancy Bears and the public release of athletes’ confidentialmedical information.
WOA believes that by illegally disclosingthe private Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) records of athletes held on WADA’sAnti-Doping Administration and Management system the hacking group is seekingto intentionally tarnish the reputation of clean athletes.
WADA has confirmed that none of theathletes in question have been found guilty of any doping infractions; theapplication and approval of the TUEs were made in line with strict anti-dopingregulations and based on rigorous medical standards.
WOA takes the protection of clean athletesvery seriously and believes these leaks should be condemned but that reform isneeded to strengthen the fight against doping.
WOA President Joël Bouzou said:
“WOA firmly believes in the need fortransparency in the battle to protect sport from corruption. However, thisillegal release of athletes’ private medical information is clearly designed toundermine the work of international federations and anti-doping bodies anddamage the reputation of clean athletes. It cannot be right that clean athletesare seeing their good record unfairly questioned by innuendo.
"WOA wholeheartedly supports the needto sanction those who have been found guilty of doping infractions but athletesthat can prove with certainty they are clean, by means of thorough andindependent testing and through the proper use of TUEs, should not be punishedor called into question. And clean athletes should never be prevented fromcompeting at sporting events from the Olympics and Paralympics on down.
"These latest developments are areminder that the time is right for a debate on the future and that changes areneeded in the anti-doping system which, in our view, is failing clean athletes.
"WOA supports a three-point reformplan based on:
• anti-doping testing that is fullyindependent of countries, sports and event organisers;
• a permanent mechanism to allow cleanathletes to compete even if their country/sport is sanctioned; and
• dramatically increased funding forresearch into improved anti-doping testing.
"WOA is committed to working with therelevant international bodies to help improve the fight against doping andensure that the rights of individuals who have done no wrong are protected.”
For more information on WOA’s proposedthree-point plan, please click here.
