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ASADA slams athlete medical record leaks

24th September, 2016
2

Four more Australian athletes including Olympic swim star Cate Campbell and world champion canoeist Jessica Fox have had their confidential medical information leaked by cyber espionage group Fancy Bears.

The information released includes details of therapeutic use exemptions or TUEs, which allow athletes to use certain prohibited substances under strict rules to treat legitimate medical conditions.

The records are the fifth batch published by the Russian hackers who stole them from the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) data storage system.

Queensland swimmers Madison Wilson and Taylor McKeown are the other two Australians among 41 international athletes whose details are the latest to be circulated from Canada, Croatia, Denmark, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Japan, Serbia, South Africa, Switzerland, Sweden and USA.

The release has been quickly condemned by the Australian Sports Anti-Doping Authority (ASADA) who rejects any suggestion of wrongdoing by the athletes.

“Before being granted, TUE applications are assessed by a number of medical experts through a rigorous process,” the body said in a statement issued on Saturday .

“In the cases of all four (Australian) athletes named today, this process determined that their medication use was both necessary for their health and would not give performance enhancing benefits.

“ASADA again condemns the malicious attacks. The leaks are a poor attempt to discredit these athletes and do not show any wrong doing. Certainly, such exemptions do not constitute doping.”

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Australian Canoeing said Fox’s TUE had been granted by the International Canoe Federation for emergency use only

“Jess had an allergic reaction to ant bites during a training camp in Rio in April,” it said in a statement.

“The TUE was subsequently approved through a robust process overseen by a number of medical experts who deemed that the treatment was both necessary and would not give her any performance enhancing benefits.

“Jess has not had to use the treatment since.”

Australian Canoeing CEO Greg Doyle said athletes, just like the rest of the population, were entitled to medical treatment in emergency situations and Fox had done “absolutely nothing wrong”.

British Olympic star Mo Farah, who is also among the total of 107 athletes who have now had their records leaked, said on Monday he had nothing to hide.

Other big names include tennis great Rafael Nadal, Tour de France winners Bradley Wiggins and Chris Froome and Australian rowing champion Kim Brennan.

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