Serena, Venus used banned drugs —Russian hackers

A group of Russian hackers claim to have found files that show the Williams sisters and gymnast Simone Biles were allowed to take banned substances by anti-doping bosses.

Hacktivists Fancy Bear leaked documents that allegedly demonstrate both Venus and Serena Williams took substances that were on the World Anti-Doping Agency’s (WADA) banned list.

However, International Tennis Federation said the Williams sisters had been given permission to use the drugs for ‘therapeutic use’.

Fancy Bear also claimed American gymnast Simone Biles tested positive for another banned substance in August but also had special dispensation to use it.

The hack on the WADA was said to have been carried out in revenge for Russia being banned from the Olympics in Rio.

Both the International Federation of Gymnasts and the International Tennis Federation said no rules had been broken.

WADA confirmed Russian hackers broke into its database and posted some athletes’ confidential medical data online.

The hackers revealed records of ‘Therapeutic Use Exemptions’ which allow athletes to use substances that are banned unless there is a verified medical need.

WADA previously warned of cyber-attacks after investigators it appointed published investigations into Russian state-sponsored doping.

WADA director general Olivier Niggli said: “These criminal acts are greatly compromising the effort by the global anti-doping community to re-establish trust in Russia.’

A spokesman added it had ‘extended its investigation with the relevant law enforcement authorities.”

Last month, hackers obtained a database password for Russian runner Yuliya Stepanova, a whistleblower and key witness for the WADA investigations.