Whistle-blower of Olympic doping scandals in Sochi says hello to his mental hospital

The main player involved in the doping scandal started by the 320-page report from the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), Grigory Rodchenkov, used to be a patient of a mental institution. 

Photo: Source: REX

Rodchenkov was forced to seek psychiatric assistance because of circumstances of a criminal case from 2011, in which he appeared as the main suspect in the organization of a network to sell doping.

According to Rumafia.com website, Rodchenkov was the head of an organized group for illicit drugs trafficking (doping). Investigators believe that his right hand in the criminal group was his own sister Marina, a triple world champion in running. Marina Rodchenkov was engaged in all the "technical" work to sell illicit drugs, while Grigory Rodchenkov, her brother, was guiding her actions. He guaranteed "clean samples" for those who buy doping drugs from them, 360 Degrees TV channel said.

Marina Rodchenkov was arrested after investigators arranged the control purchase of doping from her group. In April 2011, the head of the Anti-Doping Center was charged under Part Three of Article 234 of the Criminal Code "Illegal circulation of strong or poisonous substances to marketing them in especially big amounts." 

Rodchenkov attempted to avoid prosecution. He pretended to be an insane individual. It was established as a result of medical expertise that Rodchenkov was suffering from schizotypal personality disorder exacerbated by stress.

Also read: USA tries to strike a blow on Russia in sports after failed political attacks

Strangely enough, during the time of Rodchenkov's stay at a mental hospital, the  criminal case miraculously fell apart. It was only his sister, who was sentenced to prison term, but her sentence was suspended following an appeal at the Moscow City Court.

As a result, Grigory Rodchenkov remained in office right to the moment when the  WADA published its infamous report. In 2016, he fled to the United States, where he started "exposing" Russian athletes of the use of doping drugs.

On May 12, The New York Times published an article, in which Rodchenkov accused Russian athletes participating in the Sochi Olympics of taking doping drugs.  

As Rodchenkov claimed, the Olympic athletes were drinking "cocktails" of illicit drugs (methenolone, oxandrolone and trenbolone) mixed with alcohol. Men would dilute steroids with whiskey and women - with vermouth. This was required for a better absorption of drugs and to reduce the window of detection of banned substances. Many Russian athletes used the same mix in preparation for the Summer Olympic Games 2012 in London, the newspaper also said. 

On May 13, Kremlin's spokesman Dmitry Peskov commented on the publication in The New York Times. 

"They (Rodchenkov's statements) look like allegations that are not based on any reliable data and not supported with any trustworthy arguments. It all looks like slander from a defector," Peskov said. 

Pravda.Ru

Read article on the Russian version of Pravda.Ru