adminLAUSANNE. — The International Olympic Committee (IOC) has hired Russian doping whistle-blower Vitaly Stepanov as a consultant and is helping his runner wife Yuliya, a spokesman said yesterday. The Stepanovs were instrumental in exposing doping in Russian sport that led to the country being banned from international athletics while dozens of competitors were barred from the Rio Olympics this year.
They are now in hiding in the United States but an IOC spokesman confirmed a report by the insidethegames.com website that IOC president Thomas Bach had met them.
“The president met them some weeks ago and we are offering support to both,” Mark Adams said. The couple had complained about the IOC’s attitude after Stepanova was banned from competing at the Rio Games because of a past doping sanction. — AFP.
Bongani Ndlovu
Online Reporter