Cyber Attack on Polish Anti-Doping Agency Leads to False Athlete Allegations
The Polish Anti-Doping Agency (POLADA) announced on Wednesday that it had fallen victim to a cyber attack that resulted in the unauthorized release of false information regarding positive doping tests for several athletes. This breach has raised significant concern, especially as it implicated some of Poland’s most renowned sports figures.
Among those erroneously named in the leaks were tennis sensation Iga Swiatek, currently ranked No. 1 in the world, and the illustrious Barcelona striker Robert Lewandowski, who has been a dominant force in European football for over a decade.
These purported leaks quickly circulated on social media, causing alarm and confusion among fans and the sports community alike. However, POLADA swiftly responded by labeling the claims as “fake.” In a statement released on X (formerly Twitter), POLADA addressed the misinformation, stating:
“The information presented in this post about Polish athletes is a fabrication. All of these posts are aimed at discrediting Polish athletes, who do not deserve such treatment as they compete clean. None of these athletes have tested positive, and none of the dates presented align with doping controls that were conducted.”
The International Tennis Integrity Agency (ITIA), the governing body responsible for doping issues in tennis, confirmed to The Athletic that their records show no evidence of any adverse findings concerning Swiatek. Notably, the agency’s records extend to the period during which Swiatek was allegedly said to have tested positive, a time when anti-doping regulations were under the jurisdiction of the International Tennis Federation (ITF).
In a follow-up tweet, POLADA reiterated their stance, stating:
“In connection with the hacking attack, we inform you that data is being exploited by cybercriminals for various purposes, including widespread disinformation. Fake news aimed at discrediting Polish athletes has emerged in the public domain. Please refrain from sharing this misinformation. None of the athletes listed will have a positive result, and none of the terms presented correspond to conducted anti-doping controls.”
Swiatek’s team has referred to POLADA’s statements when contacted for further comment. POLADA is recognized as the national anti-doping organization (NADO) by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) for Poland. WADA plays a crucial role in coordinating anti-doping rules and policies across all sports, including tennis and football.
Representatives for Lewandowski have also been reached out to for comments regarding the situation.
(Dimitar Dilkoff/AFP via Getty Images)
