The Polish Anti Doping Agency (POLADA) was subject to a widespread hack from a Ukrainian hacker group called Beregini with the records of athletes such as World No.1 Iga Swiatek seemingly leaked.
Although the nature of the attack on POLADA is yet to be confirmed, the anti-doping agency’s website went down last week and remained offline as of Tuesday. The files were allegedly leaked on platform Telegram.
But social media users were given further details on Wednesday with Swiatek named as part of the doping records released by a social media user. Albeit the veracity is dubious with Swiatek alleged to have taken EPO which is a prohibited substance on the WADA list An account on X released the alleged info saying that also Robert Lewandowski, the prominent footballer was also part of these leaks.
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Some note that the date in question for Swiatek is when she lost in the fourth round of Wimbledon and weeks after losing at Roland Garros back in 2021.
Initially confirmed on social media earlier this week, the leak sees not only doping records but also phone numbers, addresses and medical info all out in the public domain. But athletes have since commented on this too with Wojtek Pszczolarksi, a prominent cyclist from the country sending a direct tweet to POLADA asking what has happened and whether they will get an email with correction and details.
He then shared a notice sent to him by POLADA stating that names, home addresses, email addresses and phone numbers of several athletes have been published online. The website also remains down as of 14 August.
“The findings indicate that the attack is the action of a group supported by the services of an enemy state,” POLADA said to Przeglad Sportowy who broke the news.
“Currently, the case is the subject of an investigation and a detailed technical analysis. POLADA has taken the necessary steps to secure the systems and submit a notification to the appropriate law enforcement authorities. We are in constant contact with the Police, CERT Polska, the Personal Data Protection Office and the Ministry of Sport and Tourism.”
Poolse antidopingbureau gehackt (waarschijnlijk door pro-Russische organisatie), duizenden documenten gelekt van atleten en non-negative tests. Oa Lewandowski en Swiatek.
Robert Lewandowski, born 21.08.1988, Warsaw, Poland Discipline: Football Detected doping: Stanozolol (anabolic steroid) Date of detection: 12.03.2022