World Anti-Doping Agency: Not all leaked docs authentic

Not all data from leaked Olympians’ anti-doping enforcement records is authentic, the World Anti-Doping Association (WADA) wrote in a press release on Wednesday. 

Hackers breached an account on the Anti-Doping Administration and Management System (ADAMS) that contained a list medical exemptions issued to athletes who use banned substances to treat injury and disease. 

{mosads}WADA believes Fancy Bear, a suspected Russian intelligence hacking outfit, is behind the attacks. Since Sept. 13, the hackers have been posting the ADAMS data to an official website. 

“It should also be noted that in the course of its investigation, WADA has determined that not all data released by Fancy Bear (in its PDF documents) accurately reflects ADAMS data. However, we are continuing to examine the extent of this as a priority and we would encourage any affected parties to contact WADA should they become aware of any inaccuracies in the data that has been released,” wrote WADA in its release.

A common fear with leaked documents is accuracy. The highest profile document leaks — from the Pentagon Papers to Edward Snowden to the Panama Papers — used authentic documents. But there is no reason to assume state actors or other motivated hackers would abstain from editing leaked files to better meet a misinformation goal.  

Acrimony between Russia and WADA began before the Olympic Games, when WADA recommended the entire Russian delegation be barred because of widespread, government sanctioned performance-enhancing drug use. The punishment was ultimately scaled back to only block the track and field team. 

Athletes who have had files released include tennis players Rafael Nadal and Serena and Venus Williams, British distance runner Mo Farah and American gymnast Simone Biles.