Simone Biles Victim of Hack, Medical Records Released
Simone Biles Victim of Hack, Medical Records Released
A Russian hacker group has leaked medical information on several U.S. Olympic athletes, including Simone Biles. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) confirme
A Russian hacker group has leaked medical information on several U.S. Olympic athletes, including Simone Biles. The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) confirmed the group illegally gained access to WADA's Anti-Doping Administration and Management System (ADAMS) database "via an International Olympic Committee-created account for the Rio 2016 Games."
The hackers accessed and subsequently leaked confidential medical records including information on "Therapeutic Use Exemptions" (TUEs). TUEs allow athletes to take banned substances based on verified medical needs.
The leaked documents show that Biles tested positive for a drug used to treat ADHD during the Rio Olympics. Biles posted on social media that she has taken medication for ADHD since she was a kid.
USA Gymnastics issued a statement responding to the leaked information stating Biles followed the proper procedure for submitting a TUE, and has not broken any drug-testing regulations. USA Gymnastics President Steve Penny said the International Gymnastics Federation, the United States Olympic Committee, and the U.S. Anti-Doping Association have confirmed that there are no violations against Biles.
Read USA Gymnastics' full statement below:
USA Gymnastics recently learned that the database of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has been hacked and that drug-testing reports for several U.S. Olympic athletes, including Simone Biles, have been breached. In keeping with official protocols of the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency and WADA, Biles submitted and was approved for a therapeutic-use exemption (TUE), the proper paperwork for any medications that an athlete takes for an illness or condition that requires the use of a medication included on the WADA Prohibited Drug List, for prescribed medication(s) she takes. By virtue of the TUE, Biles has not broken any drug-testing regulations, including at the Olympic Games in Rio.
"Simone has filed the proper paperwork per USADA and WADA requirements, and there is no violation," said Steve Penny, president of USA Gymnastics. "The International Gymnastics Federation, the United States Olympic Committee and USADA have confirmed this. Simone and everyone at USA Gymnastics believe in the importance of a level playing field for all athletes."
USADA CEO Travis T. Tygart also issued a statement condemning the hack and leak. Read the full statement below:
"It's unthinkable that in the Olympic movement, hackers would illegally obtain confidential medical information in an attempt to smear athletes to make it look as if they have done something wrong. The athletes haven't. In fact, in each of the situations, the athlete has done everything right in adhering to the global rules for obtaining permission to use a needed medication. The respective International Federations, through the proper process, granted the permission and it was recognized by the IOC and USADA. The cyber-bullying of innocent athletes being engaged in by these hackers is cowardly and despicable. It is time for the entire international community to stand up and condemn this cyber-attack on clean sport and athlete's rights."
The hackers accessed and subsequently leaked confidential medical records including information on "Therapeutic Use Exemptions" (TUEs). TUEs allow athletes to take banned substances based on verified medical needs.
The leaked documents show that Biles tested positive for a drug used to treat ADHD during the Rio Olympics. Biles posted on social media that she has taken medication for ADHD since she was a kid.
— Simone Biles (@Simone_Biles) September 13, 2016
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
USA Gymnastics issued a statement responding to the leaked information stating Biles followed the proper procedure for submitting a TUE, and has not broken any drug-testing regulations. USA Gymnastics President Steve Penny said the International Gymnastics Federation, the United States Olympic Committee, and the U.S. Anti-Doping Association have confirmed that there are no violations against Biles.
USA Gymnastics statement regarding Simone Biles and WADA hack: pic.twitter.com/YTq2iVS7Vu
— USA Gymnastics (@USAGym) September 13, 2016
Read USA Gymnastics' full statement below:
USA Gymnastics recently learned that the database of the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has been hacked and that drug-testing reports for several U.S. Olympic athletes, including Simone Biles, have been breached. In keeping with official protocols of the U.S. Anti-Doping Agency and WADA, Biles submitted and was approved for a therapeutic-use exemption (TUE), the proper paperwork for any medications that an athlete takes for an illness or condition that requires the use of a medication included on the WADA Prohibited Drug List, for prescribed medication(s) she takes. By virtue of the TUE, Biles has not broken any drug-testing regulations, including at the Olympic Games in Rio.
"Simone has filed the proper paperwork per USADA and WADA requirements, and there is no violation," said Steve Penny, president of USA Gymnastics. "The International Gymnastics Federation, the United States Olympic Committee and USADA have confirmed this. Simone and everyone at USA Gymnastics believe in the importance of a level playing field for all athletes."
USADA CEO Travis T. Tygart also issued a statement condemning the hack and leak. Read the full statement below:
"It's unthinkable that in the Olympic movement, hackers would illegally obtain confidential medical information in an attempt to smear athletes to make it look as if they have done something wrong. The athletes haven't. In fact, in each of the situations, the athlete has done everything right in adhering to the global rules for obtaining permission to use a needed medication. The respective International Federations, through the proper process, granted the permission and it was recognized by the IOC and USADA. The cyber-bullying of innocent athletes being engaged in by these hackers is cowardly and despicable. It is time for the entire international community to stand up and condemn this cyber-attack on clean sport and athlete's rights."