Simone Biles Responds to Leaked Olympic Drug Reports About Her ADHD Meds
When you think of Russia and the 2016 Summer Olympics in Rio, maybe you think of their doping scandal. Maybe you think of a U.S. swimmer slamming Russian athletes for not competing “clean.” From now on, though, it’s likely you’ll think of Russia trying to get the last word. Russian hackers have claimed responsibility for a hack of private medical files of U.S. athletes, leading to a condemnation from the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA).
Among those whose info was leaked are Venus Williams, Serena Williams, and Simone Biles, the 19-year-old gold medalist and gymnastics wunderkind who was chosen as the first female gymnast to carry the American flag in the Closing Ceremony.
U.S. Gymnastics acted quickly and released a statement about Biles’ records, making it clear that she had filed and been approved for a therapeutic-use exemption for the ADHD drugs in her system.
USA Gymnastics statement regarding Simone Biles and WADA hack: pic.twitter.com/YTq2iVS7Vu
— USA Gymnastics (@USAGym) September 13, 2016
Biles took it one step further, using the hack as a conversational tool to fight the stigma surrounding medication:
— Simone Biles (@Simone_Biles) September 13, 2016
Having ADHD, and taking medicine for it is nothing to be ashamed of nothing that I’m afraid to let people know.
— Simone Biles (@Simone_Biles) September 13, 2016
Brave move for a teen, but standard procedure for a national hero.
[image via screengrab]
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