World Anti-Doping Agency confirms cyber attacks by Russian hackers

  • WADA
  • Sport
WADA said Russian hackers accessed confidential athlete medical data. Credit: Reuters/Christinne Muschi/File Photo

The World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) has confirmed that athletes' confidential medical data was accessed during cyber attacks by Russian hackers.

In a statement WADA said the attacks are an attempt to undermine the agency and the global anti-doping system in sport.

It confirmed that a cyber espionage group by the name of Tsar Team, also known as Fancy Bear, gained access to their database via an International Olympic Committee (IOC)-created account for the Rio 2016 Games.

It said the group accessed athlete data, including confidential medical data, such as Therapeutic Use Exemptions

The organisation said it is working with law enforcement authorities and is conducting internal and external security vulnerability checks.

It has also contacted the relevant authorities regarding the specific athletes who have been affected by the security breach.

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told Russian news agencies that Russia's alleged involvement was "out of the question".