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SA Olympian's medical info hacked

Admire Moyo
By Admire Moyo, ITWeb's news editor.
Johannesburg, 27 Sept 2016
Cameron van der Burgh became the first South African to pick up a medal for the country at the Rio Olympics.
Cameron van der Burgh became the first South African to pick up a medal for the country at the Rio Olympics.

South African Olympics gold medallist Cameron van der Burgh's confidential medical information has been hacked and published online by a Russian-linked hacker group called Fancy Bears.

During the Rio Olympic Games held last month, Van der Burgh became the first South African to pick up a medal for the country at the games, taking silver in the 100m breaststroke. He is Africa's first home-trained world record-holder and individual male Olympic champion.

The hacker group, Fancy Bears, released medical information hacked from the Anti-Doping Administration Management System.

The hacked document reads: "The athlete [Van der Burgh] has received approval for the use of prohibited substances..."

It goes on to list drug Salbutamol as the prohibited substance. Salbutamol, also known as Albuterol and marketed as Ventolin among other names, is a medication that opens up the medium and large airways in the lungs. It is used to treat asthma, exercise-induced bronchospasm, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. It may also be used to treat high blood potassium levels.

Fancy Bears claims to have proof that hundreds of athletes are using illicit substances to cheat their way to medals and has focused its attention on the US Olympic team, saying these athletes "played well but not fair".

The list also details the drug tests of a total 41 athletes from Australia, Canada, Croatia, Denmark, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Japan, Serbia, South Africa, Switzerland, Sweden and the US. Earlier this month, the Fancy Bears also published the first batch of WADA documents that included medical tests of tennis superstars Serena and Venus Williams, along with Rio Olympic gold medallist gymnast Simone Biles.

Following the hacking of Van der Burgh's medical information, the South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport (SAIDS) issued a statement condemning the hack.

"The South African Institute for Drug-Free Sport notes with dismay the release of various international athletes' confidential medical information by the cyber hackers Fancy Bears. This past weekend, the hacker group released medical information hacked from the Anti-Doping Administration Management System of South African Olympic swimmer, Cameron van der Burgh."

The institute notes the releases centre on the use of therapeutic use exemptions (TUEs) by a number of athletes across the world. According to the body, TUEs are issued to athletes who have a medical condition which requires treatment using substances that are normally prohibited by anti-doping authorities.

In South Africa, the organisation explains, TUEs are issued in terms of strict rules and international standards and are assessed by an independent panel of medical experts. The process is designed to ensure the requirement is genuine and that, in the prevailing circumstances, the substance does not afford the athlete an unfair advantage but rather addresses a medical condition, says SAIDS.

"The Fancy Bears leaks appear to be designed to discredit the World Anti-Doping Agency and national anti-doping agencies processes. SAIDS condemns the publication of confidential medical information and the attempt to also discredit individual athletes.

"SAIDS would like to reassure the South African public that its TUE processes are rigorous and thorough. It remains confident that TUEs in the country are only issued in genuine cases and where they do not give athletes an unfair advantage."

That said, the organisation says the leaks have given rise to speculation about abuse of TUEs by certain athletes and their doctors, and there have been suggestions from certain quarters that the TUE process could and should be refined.

"SAIDS is continually improving its methods as part of the fight against doping, and reviews of the TUE system will continue to be part of that."

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