Wada urges Russia to stop hacks after more data is released

The World Anti-Doping Agency Thursday called on Russia to do all it could to stop a series of hacks of star athletes’ medical records as the Kremlin said it was ready to help.

“We condemn this criminal activity and have asked the Russian Government to do everything in their power to make it stop,” said Olivier Niggli, Wada’s director general.

Niggli said the hack on Wada’s computer system constituted “retaliation” against the agency, which imposed heavy penalties against Russia over doping, including banning practically its entire athletics team from the Rio Olympics.

But Russia denied involvement in the hacks and said the Russian government was ready to help if needed.

“If we’re talking about a request for help, then no question, if we receive such an appeal,” Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov said.

“Russia consistently backs fighting cybercrime, consistently invites all states and international organisations to cooperate in this area, and this position of Russia is well known,” Peskov said.

On Tuesday, Wada announced that the Russian cyber-espionage group Tsar Team (APT28), also known as Fancy Bears, had broken into its Anti-Doping Administ-ration and Management System database.

The hacking group released information gleaned from the files of sports stars including US Olympic gymnast Simone Biles and tennis champions Venus and Serena Williams.

In a fresh release, the group this time published confidential data of 25 athletes, from eight countries, including British cyclists Bradley Wiggins and Chris Froome, whose three Tour de France triumphs followed that of Wiggins.

“To those athletes that have been impacted, we regret that criminals have attempted to smear your reputations in this way,” said Niggli.

Russia’s sports minister Vitaly Mutko brushed aside suggestions of an orchestrated hacking campaign. “How can you prove that they are hackers from Russia You blame Russia for everything,” Mutko said.