Grigory Rodchenkov: biography, photo

What can we tell about the hero of the article named Grigory Rodchenkov biography? Master of Sports in Athletics, scientist. Known primarily as a specialist in the detection of doping. Candidate of Chemical Sciences, from 2006 to 2015 headed the Anti-Doping Center. At the same time he is an athlete, in his youth actively engaged in athletics.

His name appeared on everyone's lips in January 2016, when he handed over to the World Doping Agency information about doping support in Russia at the government level. The consequence of this was the disqualification of Russian athletes at the Olympics in Rio de Janeiro and a complete ban on the performance of the Russian national team at the Paralympic Games.

That's why the hero of today's article Grigory Rodchenkov. Biography, photos of this person and scandals associated with him, will be the focus of our attention. Let's talk more about it.

Scientist and athlete

Grigory Rodchenkov, whose biography begins in 1958, was born in Moscow. His mother was associated with medicine, worked as a doctor in the Kremlin hospital.

Grigory since childhood was a diligent student, at school he received almost one of the five, and moreover he was engaged in sports. In the race for 5000 meters, young Rodchenkov even became the champion of the capital.

At the insistence of the parents still chose science, not sports, although the desire for athletics remained for life. Immediately after school, he enters the chemistry department of Moscow State University. In 1982 he graduated with a diploma in chemical kinetics and catalysis.

Scientist-Chemist

Three years after the end of Moscow State University, Grigory Rodchenkov becomes an employee of the Moscow Anti-Doping Center. Biography, the early years of which were associated with sports, made itself felt.

The first major project for him are the Goodwill Games of 1986. After 2 years in the Soviet delegation sent to his first Olympics in Seoul. At the same time, Rodchenkov does not abandon scientific activity and, during perestroika, has time to confidently defend his thesis.

Doping in modern Russia

With the development of pharmaceutical science, doping in sport is becoming more popular. Therefore, the importance of anti-doping committees, national and international, is increasing. Grigory Rodchenkov, whose biography was originally associated with the sport of high achievements, is like a fish in the water. He is in demand in foreign companies.

In 1994, when the country is in crisis and devastation, Rodchenkov is working at Interlab, which deals with the supply of analytical equipment to Russia, and at the end of the 1990s cooperated with the anti-doping center in Calgary, Canada. But soon Gregory Rodchenkov returns to Russia. Biography, the nationality of our hero (he is a Jew) at that time very few people were interested, so he successfully works in the companies of the petrochemical complex.

The last place of work in Russia is the acting director, and subsequently the head of the federal state institution "Anti-Doping Center".

The scandal in 2015

For the first time the biography of Grigory Rodchinkov appeared on everyone's lips in 2015, when a loud doping scandal broke out. The International Independent Commission, he was convicted of the deliberate destruction of more than a thousand samples of Russian athletes. Allegedly this was done in order to hide the facts of their use of doping.

Grigory Rodchenkov, whose biography was not previously tainted, refutes all speculation. According to his version, only samples were destroyed, the expiry date of which has long expired. This work was planned. However, WADA has also raised more serious charges. Rodchenkova is considered one of the organizers of the criminal scheme, when the athletes were extorted money in exchange for concealing the positive results of doping tests.

Also, according to foreign colleagues, the work of the Moscow laboratory was not independent, as it was under the control of the Ministry of Sport and RUSADA. All this contradicts international agreements. Thus, state bodies should not be able to interfere with the work of anti-doping committees. On this basis, WADA insisted that Grigory Mikhailovich Rodchenkov be dismissed, his biography after this scandal would significantly worsen. The consequences were not long in coming.

Rodchenkov in disgrace

As a result of this scandal, Grigory Rodchenkov resigns, his biography changes after that. In January 2016, he leaves for the United States, according to his own statements, because of fears for his life and health.

The American friend, the director of the documentary film Brian Vogel helped organize a quick move to the States of Rodchenkov. At that time, he was already working on a film about doping, which, in particular, took place at the Winter Olympics in Sochi. Rodchenkov repeatedly gave him advice. And what else could a person like Grigory Rodchenkov have, a biography? An analytical chemist, a practicing scientist, provided invaluable assistance to journalists.

WADA investigation

On May 12, 2016, another scandal broke out, the biggest scandal, of which Grigory Rodchenkov was a figurant. In the newspaper "New York Times" there was a material called "The Russian insider says that Olympic gold is fueled by state doping." It is based on an interview given to American journalists by Grigory Rodchenkov. Biography, athletics in which played an important role, it is described in detail. Rodchenkov states that a state doping program has been developed and implemented in Russia. In its framework only during the Winter Olympics in Sochi, he personally participated in the substitution of hundreds of samples of domestic athletes.

On the day the material is released, Rodchenkov sends an open appeal to the head of the International Olympic Committee, Thomas Bach, in which he shares his evidence.

Invention of Rodchenkov

Among other things, Rodchenkov in this article admits his own invention. Thanks to the education of a chemist, he managed to develop a unique pharmaceutical cocktail, which includes three anabolic steroid. According to his recommendation, many Russian sportsmen started using it. Most of them participated in the Summer Olympics in London and in the Winter Olympics in Sochi.

With its help, it was possible to accelerate the course of anabolic processes in the body, which contributed to the recovery of cells and the growth of muscle mass. This gave athletes an unfair advantage over competitors, and the results of their doping tests were hidden.

McLaren's Report

At the same time, another blow is being struck on the image of Russian sport. The expression "McLaren's report" already firmly entered into the lexicon. It was held on July 18, 2016. Canadian professor of international sports law, speaking as an independent expert, said on the basis of his own investigation of the massive use of doping by Russian athletes during the Olympics in Sochi.

Also, McLaren argues that the charges put forward by Rodchenkov, found confirmation. Most Rodchenkov, the Canadian calls "the most reliable and truthful source of information about doping in Russia." Strictly the opposite assessment of the figure of Gregory at the same time gives Russian President Vladimir Putin, calling him "a man of scandalous reputation."

Putin asks WADA to provide concrete data and facts, because the names of the athletes either in the report of McLaren, or in the speech of Rodchenkov was practically not called. At the same time, the Russian government unequivocally denied accusations of supporting the use of doping by athletes, noting that, in fact, they are all based on the testimony of one person.

In turn, McLaren argued that he had testimony of a large number of witnesses, which can not be called. All of them, except Rodchenkov, agreed to cooperate only on condition of anonymity.

Criminal case

In the field of view of law enforcement bodies, the Rodchenkov family came back in 2011. Then his sister Marina was accused of illicit trafficking in anabolic drugs. The then Federal Service for the Control of Drug Trafficking conducted searches both in Rodchenkov's apartment and in the office of the anti-doping center. True, there was no evidence of Gregory's involvement in this case, and did not initiate it.

In 2016, a criminal case was initiated against Rodchenkov in Russia following a thorough analysis of the interviews in the American media. The initiator was the Investigative Committee. The sports functionary is charged with the article "Abuse of powers". The decree was issued on July 18. The day that McLaren's report was held.

Interrogation in the Rodchenkov case

After that, Russian law enforcers sent a request to their American colleagues to interrogate Rodchenkov for this criminal proceeding. On July 4, the Investigative Committee of Russia issued a press release stating that witnesses had already been questioned on the case against Rodchenkov. They confirmed that the suspect illegally acquired illegal medicines in the US.

Witnesses, interrogated by the Investigative Committee, argue that Rodchenkov acted for his own benefit. With self-interest, he sold these drugs, besides he received additional cash reward from athletes, promising them to hide the facts of using prohibited drugs.

On August 12, the arrest of property started, Rodchenkov being the owner. The Moscow Basmanny Court ruled to impose an arrest on the land plot owned by Rodchenkov. The initiator of this appeal was the Investigative Committee of Russia. Currently, the exact location of Gregory Rodchenkov is unknown, he did not return to his homeland.