Fancy Bears hackers publish list of 150 footballers caught doping in 2015
Leaked data also reveals that 25 players were given TUEs at the 2010 Fifa World Cup
According to documents released by the Fancy Bears hacking group, 150 footballers were caught doping in 2015 and 25 players were given exemptions by Fifa to take banned medicines during the 2010 World Cup.
World Anti-Doping Agency (Wada) documents obtained by Fancy Bears reveal that 150 players were caught doping in 2015 for substances such as cocaine, methamphetamine and amphetamine. Wada reports that the number of doping cases last year could be as high as 200.
At the 2010 finals in South Africa, players who were given Therapeutic Use Exemptions (TUEs) for substances that normally appear on the banned list include Argentina's Carlos Tevez, Juan Veron and Gabriel Heinze, and Holland's Dirk Kuyt.
While there's no indication that any of the players had broken any doping rules, the Fancy Bears hack team said in a statement that it's clear football is not a doping-free sport.
"Today Fancy Bears' hack team is publishing the material leaked from various sources related to football," the statement said. "Football players and officials unanimously affirm that this kind of sport is free of doping. Our team perceived these numerous claims as a challenge and now we will prove they are lying.
"You can have a look at WADA documents revealing that more than 150 players were caught doping in 2015. The next year this number increased up to 200 athletes."
