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Stepanows Appeal to Olympic Bodies for Asylum Aid, Receive No Responses

Their attempts to secure asylum support have so far drawn only financial aid from the IOC, met with silence from other sports bodies.

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Doping-Whistleblowerin Julia Stepanowa (M.)
Das IOC-Hauptquartier in Lausanne
Whistleblowerin Yuliya Stepanova und ihr Partner beklagen fehlende Unterstützung nach ihren Enthüllungen – und leben weiter in Angst.

Overview

  • Julia and Witali Stepanow sent a public letter to IOC President Thomas Bach, WADA, and World Athletics recalling promised support for whistleblowers but received no official replies.
  • The couple continues to live at a secret location in the United States without citizenship or valid residency papers, unable to travel and fearing deportation to Russia.
  • The IOC reports it provided approximately $400,000 in scholarships and consultancy fees between 2016 and 2022 but says it cannot influence US asylum or citizenship decisions.
  • WADA maintains that it lacks authority over US asylum proceedings and must uphold whistleblower confidentiality, while World Athletics has offered only to explore assistance with other organizations.
  • Former German Athletics president Clemens Prokop described the Stepanows’ situation as “horrible, intolerable” and warned that their plight could deter future whistleblowers.