Grigory Mikhailovich Rodchenkov is the former head of Russia's national anti-doping laboratory, the Anti-Doping Center.
26 Facts About Grigory Rodchenkov
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In November 2015, the Independent Commission of the World Anti-Doping Agency had determined that Grigory Rodchenkov was "at the heart of the positive drug test coverup", and that he had been directly involved with concealing positive tests and destroying 1,417 urine samples.
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Grigory Rodchenkov made headlines in 2016 after an interview to The New York Times exposing the doping program in Russia.
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Grigory Rodchenkov said he developed a three-drug cocktail of banned substances that he mixed with liquor and provided to dozens of athletes at Sochi Olympics.
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Grigory Rodchenkov's allegations were confirmed by the independent McLaren Report, leading to Russia's partial bans from the 2016 Summer Olympics and 2018 Winter Olympics.
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Since the revelations became public, Grigory Rodchenkov has been living in hiding, under witness protection.
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Grigory Rodchenkov's mother worked as a doctor at Kremlin Hospital.
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Grigory Rodchenkov graduated from Moscow State University and received his Ph.
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Grigory Rodchenkov later described that the Soviet Union's state-sponsored doping program served as a model for Russia's program in the XXI century, with Vladimir Putin merely continuing what Joseph Stalin started.
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Grigory Rodchenkov joined the Anti-Doping Centre in Calgary for the 1998 Winter Olympics.
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Grigory Rodchenkov was arrested in relation to this investigation and questioned on suspicion of sourcing and selling banned drugs.
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Grigory Rodchenkov was placed in a psychiatric hospital for schizotypal personality disorder following a suicide attempt after charges were filed against him.
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At the time, Grigory Rodchenkov was the director of the Russia's national anti-doping laboratory.
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The IC report concluded that Grigory Rodchenkov was "at the heart of the positive drug test coverup".
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Shortly after release of the IC report, WADA suspended the Moscow Antidoping Center, which Grigory Rodchenkov had headed since 2006.
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In January 2016, fearing for his safety, Grigory Rodchenkov boarded a flight from Moscow to Los Angeles.
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Grigory Rodchenkov settled in the United States and entered the witness protection program.
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Grigory Rodchenkov discussed doping at the Sochi Olympics with whistle-blower Vitaly Stepanov, who recorded 15 hours of their conversations without his knowledge.
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Grigory Rodchenkov gave details to The New York Times, alleging that Russia's Federal Security Service was involved in covering up positive doping samples.
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Dr Grigory Rodchenkov stated that the word "methasterone" in the original was a "typographical error".
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Grigory Rodchenkov stated that he personally had never distributed the Duchess Cocktail, had never seen an athlete take the mixture or instruction being given either to athletes or to coaches to use the substance, and had never seen an athlete give a clear urine sample or "tamper with a doping sample".
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Russia's doping program and Grigory Rodchenkov's work were highlighted in testimony before the US Helsinki Commission in Washington, DC, on 22 February 2018.
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Grigory Rodchenkov continues to fear for his life and remains in hiding under protective custody.
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Grigory Rodchenkov was featured in the 2017 Netflix documentary Icarus, directed by Bryan Fogel.
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In Icarus, Grigory Rodchenkov describes his involvement in a conspiracy to help Russian athletes to beat doping tests in the Olympic Games.
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Grigory Rodchenkov was the 2020 winner of the William Hill Sports Book of the Year for his book The Grigory Rodchenkov Affair: How I Brought Down Putin's Secret Doping Empire.