Vitaly Stepanov and Yuliya Stepanova, the whistleblowers who exposed institutional doping in Russian athletics, presented their story on Wednesday evening during the third and final segment of the ethics lecture series sponsored by the Daniels Fund.
The event appeared well-attended by both Colorado Mesa University students and community members, in the almost-full University Center Ballroom.
Vitaly, a Russian Anti-Doping Agency official and Yuliya, a word-class 800-meter runner, met in 2009 and were married shortly after. During the first four years of their marriage, Yuliya continued to dope for competition, since nearly all athletes and coaches she knew of participated in this intuitional doping system. Yuliya’s use of drugs to enhance performance conflicted with Vitaly’s staunch opposition to doping in sports.
According to Yuliya, doping in Russia was not seen as a large moral dilemma. Their mentality was instead that all other countries likely cheat, so they should at least try to be the “best cheater.” Yuliya was 21 when introduced to doping.
In 2013, Vitaly and Yuliya began to gather evidence to bring to the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA). Yuliya recorded conversations on her phone with athletes and coaches to prove the existence of doping in Russia, an example of which was shown in a German documentary.
In 2015, Yuliya received a two-year suspension for her previous doping and for whistleblowing, a suspension that will end this year.
Despite their evidence revealing widespread doping in Russian track and field, WADA refused to investigate other Russian sports. The banning of Russian athletes from the 2016 Rio Olympic Games and the 2018 Pyeong-Chang was done by the International Association of Athletics Federations.
Vitaly and Yuliya permanently left Russia after their whistleblowing, and currently live in the United States.
Student-athletes at CMU were especially encouraged to attend this event during the lecture series, as it pertained directly to athletics.
Luke Spitz, a junior distance runner on the cross country and track and field teams, said he was surprised at “how widespread doping was in Russia.”
“[The presentation] makes me wonder how many athletes today are feeling pressure to take performance enhancing drugs,” Spitz said. “I really admire Yuliya and Vitaly for their bravery and willingness to take a stand for what is right.”
Blake Graff, a senior distance runner attended the event with his teammate and said that it was interesting to hear the “back story” of the Russian doping. Graff acknowledged Yuliya’s difficult position, as she was forced to train surrounded by athletes and coaches who supported doping.
“As a track athlete, I understand doping and how it’s ethically wrong, but that’s only because I was raised in a country and had coaches that all valued a clean sport and followed the rules,” Graff said. “It was interesting to see an athlete in my same sport and how their view is in Russia.”
Graff also discussed how Yuliya’s ethical dilemma can apply to college athletics as well.
“Even though the NCAA has strict rules and testing, I’m thankful too that they exist and that the rules are followed,” Graff said. “I’d rather be second best by doing it ethically, than by being first by cheating.”
