[CanuckG]

Sorry if this is a re post...click here to read the article or just scroll below.

A hacktivist group claims it has uncovered files that show American tennis players the Williams sisters were allowed by WADA to take banned substances, while US Olympic gold medal-winning gymnast Simone Biles recorded a positive drug test.
The allegations were published on the website of the hacktivist group Fancy Bear, which described the revelations as being “just the tip of the iceberg.”

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WADA Confirms Attack by Russian Cyber Espionage Group:http://ow.ly/gYik304aJxX
8:47 AM - 13 Sep 2016 · Canada, Canada

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World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) has released a statement confirming the cyber attack. It noted that the cyber intrusion was conducted by a Russian hacker team and that it is taking the attack “very seriously.”
“The group accessed athlete data, including confidential medical data - such as Therapeutic Use Exemptions delivered by International Sports Federations (IFs) and National Anti-Doping Organizations (NADOs) - related to the Rio Games.”
According to the body, the information was obtained “through spear phishing of email accounts.”
An internal investigation has been launched, WADA said in the statement.
The documents the group says it hacked from WADA’s Anti-Doping Administration and Management System (ADAMS) database contain information that Serena Williams, one of the world’s greatest ever tennis players, was taking a number of banned substances.

Williams was allowed to take oxycodone, hydromorphone, prednisone and methylprednisolone in 2010, 2014 and 2015, despite the substances being placed on WADA’s list of banned substances.
However, the documents released also showed that Williams had been given special permission to take some of the drugs. The authorization was given by Dr. Stuart Miller from the International Tennis Federation (ITF).

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Fancy Bears' HT @FancyBears

#SerenaWilliams #VenusWilliams are doping addicts#OpOlympics #FancyBears #WADA
3:43 PM - 12 Sep 2016

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Serena’s older sister Venus was found to have taken prednisone, prednisolone, triamcinolone and formoterol, which are also on WADA’s banned list. However, she was given special dispensation to take the substances as long as she adhered to various conditions regarding the use of the drugs.
Both Serena and Venus Williams were allowed to take the prohibited drugs, the ITF says.
"The Williams sisters had permission for the therapeutic use of banned drugs," the ITF is quoted as saying by TASS.
Meanwhile, American gymnast Simone Biles tested positive for methylphenidate after giving a urine sample. However, like the Williams sisters, she was given special dispensation to take the drug.
RT has contacted the International Federation of Gymnastics for comment, with its representative saying the body followed the current rules and that there is “no problem.”
“She [Biles] has a therapeutic use exemption, there is nothing we have to mention about that, everything is absolutely clear and according to the rules.”

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Fancy Bears' HT @FancyBears

#SimoneBiles leaked data#doping #WADA #OpOlympics#FancyBears'
2:21 PM - 12 Sep 2016

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The leaked documents do not contain any diagnoses for the affected athletes, with the respective fields in the papers marked as“confidential.”

[Bill Dozer]

What do those drugs do? Any drug name that ends in -sone sounds like serious shit to me. Ive watched season one of Ballers.


Somewhere Maria Sharapova is on the phone with her lawyers saying use this to get my ban reduced.

[CanuckG]

What do those drugs do? Any drug name that ends in -sone sounds like serious shit to me. Ive watched season one of Ballers.


Somewhere Maria Sharapova is on the phone with her lawyers saying use this to get my ban reduced.

Enhances their performance.

[JoeyBagels]

No surprise.

[Sam Odom]

Simone Biles
Both Williams

all Black

[Russian Rocket]

No surprise here really...I've been saying this for years

I remember how two clueless dumbfukks SNITCH t-wizzle and Goat Milk were trying to say that those two are clean and the best tennis players in the world...all natural too

[funnyb25]

You know it's a slow day in the sports world when we talking about women's tennis

[jjgold]

Terrible source

[eidolon]

I think they are for pain and nerve damage (possible ADHD)

[Russian Rocket]

"The Williams sisters had permission for the therapeutic use of banned drugs," the ITF is quoted as saying by TASS.

Anyone who questioned (And there are many of you here) that going after Sharapova who had an Rx for meldonium was nothing, but a political theater, like I was saying earlier, is a complete dumbfukk in my book.

[Russian Rocket]

I think they are for pain and nerve damage (possible ADHD)

Methylphenidate is a central nervous system stimulant. It affects chemicals in the brain and nerves that contribute to hyperactivity and impulse control.

Prednisone is also a well known steroid.

There is Advil and Tylenol that you can take for pain.

[jtoler]

Enhances their performance.

How Canadian of you.

[KVB]

These steroids, while banned, are not exactly performance enhancers. They are, for the most part, very strong anti-inflammatory drugs. There also narcotics listed.

I'm guessing there is an underlying, systemic, inflammatory disease and/or severe skin problems.

Biles was basically taking Ritalin, but not necessarily for ADHD. There are other problems, like sleep issues, that it can help treat.

[SBRMAN23]

Enhances their performance are you serious lmfaooo

[Russian Rocket]

These steroids, while banned, are not exactly performance enhancers. They are, for the most part, very strong anti-inflammatory drugs. There also narcotics listed.

I'm guessing there is an underlying, systemic, inflammatory disease and/or severe skin problems.

Biles was basically taking Ritalin, but not necessarily for ADHD. There are other problems, like sleep issues, that it can help treat.

Sharapova was taking a drug, that to this day doesn't have a single study attached to it on what exactly it does to an athlete.

And she still got a 2 year ban.

[Plaza23]

The Williams sisters have been juicing since they were 18. They are the Barry Bonds of tennis.

[jtoler]

Sharapova was taking a drug, that to this day doesn't have a single study attached to it on what exactly it does to an athlete.

And she still got a 2 year ban.

Dang, two years? I thought it was less, thats harsh. Not sure, maybe these girls had clearances and oks beforehand and Pov didnt. Thats the only way I could think they'ed be allowed to do this, they must have notified them prior. That two years should be reduced.

[KVB]

Meldonium is a tough one. WADA had been monitoring the drug for a year before adding it the list for this year.

It's not very widespread, distributed only in Baltic countries and Russia. The US and Europe do not allow it in any capacity. I think it is made in Latvia.

Many athletes have taken it for years, for medical conditions, before it was banned.

The problem arose when WADA was monitoring for the year. They found evidence of athletes using the drug, which increases blood flow, for the purpose of enhancing performance. They were taking advantage of the increased oxygen to the muscles.

I'm not sure if there was adequate warning for Sharapova to stop taking the drug. I do know that the decision was made in September of 2015 to add it to the list. The Russian anti-doping agency was informed of the ban and it didn't come into effect until January 2016.

This is how I understand it. And yes, there were probably political influences as well that kicked in in 2016.

[KVB]

Dang, two years? I thought it was less, thats harsh. Not sure, maybe these girls had clearances and oks beforehand and Pov didnt. Thats the only way I could think they'ed be allowed to do this, they must have notified them prior. That two years should be reduced.

Standard ban is actually 4 years. There was about a 3 to 4 month window of warning to the athletes before the ban took effect.

[Russian Rocket]

Meldonium is a tough one. WADA had been monitoring the drug for a year before adding it the list for this year.

It's not very widespread, distributed only in Baltic countries and Russia. The US and Europe do not allow it in any capacity. I think it is made in Latvia.

Many athletes have taken it for years, for medical conditions, before it was banned.

The problem arose when WADA was monitoring for the year. They found evidence of athletes using the drug, which increases blood flow, for the purpose of enhancing performance. They were taking advantage of the increased oxygen to the muscles.

I'm not sure if there was adequate warning for Sharapova to stop taking the drug. I do know that the decision was made in September of 2015 to add it to the list. The Russian anti-doping agency was informed of the ban and it didn't come into effect until January 2016.

This is how I understand it. And yes, there were probably political influences as well that kicked in in 2016.

That's just a theory...you do realize that it was not scientifically proven in any shape or form, right?

[KVB]

That's just a theory...you do realize that it was not scientifically proven in any shape or form, right?

It doesn't really matter. They found athletes were using it for no other purpose than performance enhancement. The drug increases blood flow and they decided, after monitoring, to ban it.

A study showed that 17% of Russians tested positive and 2.2% worldwide. It's use has been increasing. I'm not agreeing or disagreeing with the drugs effects, it was banned and that's that.

If athletes were given proper warning then, the use should have stopped. If athletes were taking it for lack of magnesium or diabetes, like Sharapova, then they had ample time to switch to something else.

If athletes were warned of meldonium, but didn't' think they were taking it because they only know the brand name they were taking, one almost has to find the athlete at fault.

But were they adequately warned? I'm not sure.

[daneblazer]

The vet gave my dog prednisone when she had cancer

[KVB]

The vet gave my dog prednisone when she had cancer

As a dog lover, that sounds tough.

But now to the joke, did she play better tennis?

[EmpireMaker]

What do those drugs do? Any drug name that ends in -sone sounds like serious shit to me. Ive watched season one of Ballers.


Somewhere Maria Sharapova is on the phone with her lawyers saying use this to get my ban reduced.

Steriods and pain killers

[Russian Rocket]

It doesn't really matter. They found athletes were using it for no other purpose than performance enhancement. The drug increases blood flow and they decided, after monitoring, to ban it.

A study showed that 17% of Russians tested positive and 2.2% worldwide. It's use has been increasing. I'm not agreeing or disagreeing with the drugs effects, it was banned and that's that.

If athletes were given proper warning then, the use should have stopped. If athletes were taking it for lack of magnesium or diabetes, like Sharapova, then they had ample time to switch to something else.

If athletes were warned of meldonium, but didn't' think they were taking it because they only know the brand name they were taking, one almost has to find the athlete at fault.

But were they adequately warned? I'm not sure.

Of course it matters! You find that most American athletes take a certain supplement and then without any scientific proof ban that supplement, just because a ton of North American athletes take this shit. How fukking silly is that? Would that sit well with you?

Athletes did get a warning to stop taking this drug, but no one knows how long it stays in your system after you stop taking it. That's why you saw a lot of meldonium-related bans got overturned right before Olympics.

[KVB]

Of course it matters! You find that most American athletes take a certain supplement and then without any scientific proof ban that supplement, just because a ton of North American athletes take this shit. How fukking silly is that? Would that sit well with you?

Athletes did get a warning to stop taking this drug, but no one knows how long it stays in your system after you stop taking it. That's why you saw a lot of meldonium-related bans got overturned right before Olympics.

If the substance was banned, I don't really care where in the world it happens. Remember, I'm a bettor, I'm not a fan. I learned long ago to divorce nationalism and fandom to see the markets more objectively.

Whether or not the "supplement" should or shouldn't be on the list really doesn't matter at this point. Athletes don't get to make that argument. If it's on the list, then it's on the list.

When athletes were found to be taking it for purposes of enhancing performance, and the use was growing from event to event, they made the call. Proof becomes secondary because hundreds of athletes of one purpose for ingestion, to enhance performance. The drug increases blood flow and, therefore, oxygen to the muscles when training. This is fact and athletes were exploiting it.

Anyone taking it for another purpose can easily replace it with legal substances, like Sharapova. Why didn't she stop, like other athletes? I agree with overturning the bans, mostly because it was so new to the list.

For Sharapova, she makes claims about why she has taken it, and they don't add up. She could have taken other things for the same effect. Was she being defiant, or did she have residual amounts in her system. Clearly, they made an example of her.

Politically, if this had been approved worldwide and more commonly used before the ban, I wonder what would have happened.

[Russian Rocket]

Whether or not the "supplement" should or shouldn't be on the list really doesn't matter at this point. Athletes don't get to make that argument. If it's on the list, then it's on the list.

I disagree...why would you take an over the counter legal drug, that is being taken just on the other side of the globe and without any scientific study attached to it, ban this supplement?
Just because WADA thinks that it should be banned, doesn't make this drug any more performance-enhancing than a Tylenol.
40% of WADA's funding comes from US - that's all you really need to know about this scandal.

Meanwhile both Williams sisters are secretly allowed to take steroids....that just doesn't make any sense.

[daneblazer]

Hopefully for them viagra isn't banned

[Russian Rocket]

Biles was basically taking Ritalin, but not necessarily for ADHD.

Looks like it was ADHD after all



also it looks like American basketball star Elena Delle Donne's drug test revealed that she had also used amphetamine. In addition, since 2014 she has been taking hydrocortisone that is also classified as doping.


Gotta love Russian hackers...first Hillary now this

[KVB]

I disagree...why would you take an over the counter legal drug, that is being taken just on the other side of the globe and without any scientific study attached to it, ban this supplement?
Just because WADA thinks that it should be banned, doesn't make this drug any more performance-enhancing than a Tylenol.
40% of WADA's funding comes from US - that's all you really need to know about this scandal.

Meanwhile both Williams sisters are secretly allowed to take steroids....that just doesn't make any sense.

Well the political aspect can't be denied. In fact, it can easily be seen as discriminatory.

But the political aspect only seems useful if they banned it with the intent to catch athletes in the process.

But it sounds like they gave ample warning to not take meldonium. So why did they take it? Why did Sharapova continue to use it when told not to? Or did she?

I don't doubt the corruption one bit, I've seen it first hand. But WADA makes the decision, and if they think something should be banned, then that's all it takes.

From what I can see, nobody's health was in jeopardy by banning this substance. Athletes should have stopped taking it, then fight out the worthiness of the rule another time. Even if it is pure corruption.

But if athletes were told not to, and the continued, there is a problem. Again, I agree with reversing the ban before the Olympics for some athletes, it implies less scandal and more of doing the right thing.

It seems to me the Russian anti doping agency passed on the new rule to athletes, without incident. It's the athletes that caused the incident. And they have little power.

Did Russian coaches cry corruption and tell everyone to ignore the new rule? The political scene was no doubt ugly, but there should be little excuse for athletes to take a banned substance.

I have a little trouble with the medical exemptions. If you are sick enough to have to take a banned substance, then the ban should be questioned or the athlete should be DQ'd. If you are too sick, you can't compete and that's that.

[KVB]

These medical exemptions make the water real murky for banned substances. Either the substances should be looked at closer, or athletes should find alternatives.

This allows for a lot of preferential treatment. I wonder how many other athletes carry medical exemption, maybe it's common and no big deal.

Either way, there is far too much wiggle room for WADA, who has shown signs of preferential treatment already.

[balder_l]

It's obvious that Serena using steroids, just look at her.

[KVB]

...Meanwhile both Williams sisters are secretly allowed to take steroids....that just doesn't make any sense.

It does when you consider that they are corticosteriods, not anabolic steroids. I think the lesson in these released files is that there exist medical conditions for substance that are banned that allow athletes to use them. And there use is more common than people think.

When people understand the drugs being taken, it becomes a non story. The only real story here is that WADA has been hacked and medical records (to an extent) have been released. So far I've seen nothing that breaks WADA rules.

[Russian Rocket]

It's funny how it's OK for an American athlete to have a medical exemption for, unlike meldonium, already proven steroids, but not the Russian one...don't you think?

[Russian Rocket]

It does when you consider that they are corticosteriods, not anabolic steroids. I think the lesson in these released files is that there exist medical conditions for substance that are banned that allow athletes to use them. And there use is more common than people think.

When people understand the drugs being taken, it becomes a non story. The only real story here is that WADA has been hacked and medical records (to an extent) have been released. So far I've seen nothing that breaks WADA rules.

It doesn't matter what kind of steroids those are...they're are on a banned list for a reason.

Also it's laughable to think that Ritalin does not increase someone's performance.