Olympic rower Kim Brennan one of three Aussie victims of Russian hackers’ attack on WADA data store

OLYMPIC rowing champion Kim Brennan is one of three Australians to have confidential medical data published by Russian cyber espionage group ‘Fancy Bears’.

Australia's Kim Brennan won gold in the single sculls at the Rio 2016 Olympic Games.

Rio Olympic rowing champion Kim Brennan is one of three Australian athletes to have confidential medical data published by the Russian cyber espionage group the Fancy Bears.

Brennan, cyclist Jack Bobridge and fellow rower Alexander Belonogoff feature on a third list released by hackers who stole it from WADA’s data storage system relating to Therapeutic Use Exemptions (TUEs) granted to athletes.

The documents show single sculls champion Brennan and Belonogoff, who was part of the men’s quadruple sculls silver medal-winning team in Rio, were allowed to take epinephrine.

There is no suggestion of any wrongdoing on the part of any of the athletes named, with all having followed WADA protocol correctly.

Rowing Australia put out a statement to add their condemnation to that of ASADA over the leak, with Brennan herself expressing frustration at feeling compelled “to justify in the public domain my personal medical records.”

“Therapeutic Use Exemptions (TUEs) exist so that athletes who suffer from legitimate medical conditions can seek treatment,” the statement read. “In the case of the two Australian rowers who have had their information leaked today, the TUEs were for adrenaline used to treat anaphylaxis (severe allergic reaction).

“Kim Brennan was administered adrenaline in an emergency department following a severe allergic reaction in January 2014. Her Therapeutic Use Exemption (TUE) entitles her to carry an EpiPen in case of future episodes. Reports that Brennan has used adrenaline on multiple occasions, and for asthma, are false.

“In the case of both athletes, they have declared their TUEs on doping control forms, as is required by ASADA and WADA. Declaring this information means that the athletes are able to access their required medication in case of emergency, it does not mean that either athlete has used adrenaline in or out of competition. The TUEs issued are in no way performance enhancing, in both cases the EpiPen is a life-saving piece of equipment.”

Belonogoff (L) was part of Australia’s successful quadruple sculls squad.

The Australian trio were three of 11 athletes named on Friday along with British track star Laura Trott and double Olympic boxing champion Nicola Adams. Earlier this week US gymnastics superstar Simone Biles, and Serena and Venus Williams had their TUEs leaked online along with cycling champions Chris Froome and Sir Bradley Wiggins.

The International Olympic Committee called the leaks an “outrageous” breach of confidentiality and have offered to assist WADA in communicating with Russian authorities over the matter.

Russian President Vladimir Putin, whose nation’s track and field athletes were banned from competing in Rio, along with their Paralympians, claimed the records raise a lot of questions.

“It seems as if healthy athletes are taking drugs legally that are prohibited for others, and people who are clearly suffering from serious illnesses, major disabilities, are suspected of taking some kind of substances and banned from the Paralympic Games,” Putin told Russian news agency TASS.

Brennan, who claimed gold in the single sculls in Rio last month, said: “To call into question the use of a substance administered by a doctor in a hospital emergency department to combat a severe allergic reaction is beyond disappointing.

“This administration of adrenaline was in no way performance enhancing. I was seriously ill following this hospitalisation and I am upset I have to justify in the public domain my personal medical records.

“I followed all WADA procedures in ensuring I received the appropriate permissions for this treatment and strongly believe in doping free sport. The highly concerning issue here is the leak of personal medical information.”

Originally published as Olympic rower Kim Brennan one of three Aussie victims of Russian hackers’ attack on WADA data store