The Rodchenkov Affair: How I Brought Down Russia’s Secret Doping Empire – Winner of the William Hill Sports Book of the Year 2020

The Rodchenkov Affair: How I Brought Down Russia’s Secret Doping Empire – Winner of the William Hill Sports Book of the Year 2020

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  • Type:Epub+TxT+PDF+Mobi
  • Create Date:2022-02-12 06:55:48
  • Update Date:2025-09-07
  • Status:finish
  • Author:Grigory Rodchenkov
  • ISBN:075355335X
  • Environment:PC/Android/iPhone/iPad/Kindle

Summary

***Winner of the William Hill Sports Book of the Year, 2020 - the inside story of the Russian doping programme by the man behind it all***

One of the Financial Times's 'Fifty people who shaped the decade'

'The biggest sports scandal the world has ever seen'

In 2015, Russia's Anti-Doping Centre was suspended by the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA) following revelations of an elaborate state-sponsored doping programme at the 2014 Sochi Winter Olympics。 Involving a nearly undetectable steroid delivery system known as 'Duchesse cocktail', tampering and switching of urine samples, and a complex state-sanctioned cover-up, the programme was masterminded by Grigory Rodchenkov。

The Rodchenkov Affair tells the full, unadulterated story that was first glimpsed in Bryan Fogel's award-winning documentary and still continues to captivate and shock the world。 Charting the author's childhood growing up under the Iron Curtain, his first encounter with doping as a 22-year-old student athlete at Moscow State University, and his subsequent career working for the Soviet Olympic Committee, this breathtakingly candid journey reveals a rigged system of flawed individuals, brazen deceit and impossible moral choices。

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Reviews

Kirkirvarpa

Kažkur už tūkstančių kilometrų, Pekine, šiuo metu šimtai sportininkų yra suvažiavę į vieną didžiausių sporto renginių - žiemos olimpines žaidynes。 Na ir kas, kad ten nėra nei kruopelytės tikro sniego, o pasaulyje siaučia covidas - šiems laikams tai ne problema。 Dirbtinis sniegas, kaukės net varžybų metu, tuščios tribūnos。 Tokia šiemet olimpiada。 Skaityti šią knygą vykstant olimpiadai - dar didesnis malonumas。 Arba tiksliau ne malonumas, o apima dar didesnis pasibaisėjimo jausmas - kiek sportinin Kažkur už tūkstančių kilometrų, Pekine, šiuo metu šimtai sportininkų yra suvažiavę į vieną didžiausių sporto renginių - žiemos olimpines žaidynes。 Na ir kas, kad ten nėra nei kruopelytės tikro sniego, o pasaulyje siaučia covidas - šiems laikams tai ne problema。 Dirbtinis sniegas, kaukės net varžybų metu, tuščios tribūnos。 Tokia šiemet olimpiada。 Skaityti šią knygą vykstant olimpiadai - dar didesnis malonumas。 Arba tiksliau ne malonumas, o apima dar didesnis pasibaisėjimo jausmas - kiek sportininkų varžybose dalyvauja be dopingo? Kiek naujų schemų sukurta, kad būtų apeitos antidopingo sistemos? Kiek antidopingo centrai prisideda prie kovos su nesąžiningo sporto pavyzdžiais, o kiek tarnauja pagalbininkais, kad nešvarūs sportininkai būtų slapčia apvalyti?Ši knyga atskleidžia 30-ies metų Rusijos antidopingo centro veiklą。 Centras niekada nekovojo su uždraustų aparatų vartojimų。 Atvirkščiai, gelbėjo rusų sportininkus iš pačių nemaloniausių situacijų, patardavo, ką vartoti ir kada nebevartoti, kad tyrimai parodytų švarų organizmą。 Šios machinacijos epogėjų pasiekė per Sočio olimpines žaidynes, kai tuo metu turbūt pažangiausioje pasaulio dopingo tyrimo laboratorijoje prasuko neįtikėtiną schemą, kurios metu sukeisdavo "nešvarius" šlapimo mėginius su iš anksto paruoštais švarutėliais。Rusijos pavyzdys turbūt labiausiai išvystytas ir šokiruojantis。 Bet ar Rusija vienintelė, kurioje antidopingo agentūros veikia nešvaraus sporto naudai? Vargu。 Per paskutinius 30 metų daug žingsnių buvo žengta, kad sportas taptų švaresnis。 Bet po kiekvieno didelio skandalo atsirasdavo dar išmanesnės klastojimo schemos。 Pavyzdžiui, dviračių sportas。 Garsusis dviratininkas Armstrongas buvo septyniskart Tour de France lenktynių čempionas。 Savo titulus jis pelnė nugalėjęs vėžį。 Oho! Šlovė ir miilijonų sirgalių meilė garantuota。 Iki kol nepaaiškėjo, kad didysis Lencas visa tai pasiekė sukūręs gudrią schemą su kraujo perpilymu。 Dviračių sporte dopingo visada buvo labai daug。 Pamenat, mūsų Rumšą ir jo žmonos automobilyje rastus medikamentus? O paskui paslaptingai mirusį Rumšą jaunesnįjį? Dviračių sportas dabar deklaruoja, kad apsivalė ir yra visiškai švarus。 Tik ar tikrai taip? Ar tikrai esame liudininkai, kai gulbė iš bjauraus ančiuko virsta į kerinčiai grakštų paukštį? Turbūt daugiau kaip pusė dviratininkų deklaruoja esantys astmatininkai。 Sutapimas? Labai dažna liga? Gal。 O gal tiesiog viena mažytė (ne)reikšminga detalė - atliekant dopingo testus astmatikų organizme leidžiama didesnė koncentracija tam tikrų medžiagų。 Kurios suvartojamos su vaistais。 Arba su, pavadinkime, dopingu, kas leidžia greičiau atstatyti jėgas。 O tai juk dar vienas žingsnelis arčiau pergalės。Deja, tai tik vienas iš paprasčiausių būdų sistemą pritaikyti nešvaraus sporto naudai。 Kiek kur kas sudėtingesnių schemų šiuo metu vykdoma ar dar bus sukurta? 。。。more

John MacDonald

The winner of the 2020 William Hill Sports Book Of The Year annual literary competition, and highlighted by Matt on Simon Mayo’s book Podcast , which is recommended enough for me! On the plus side , the narrative is brilliantly translated, and reads like a Cold War / contemporary spy novel in places The Author was at the forefront of industrial scale doping / cheating , on behalf of the Russian sports authorities from the 1980s until 2016 , enabling the false winning of ,multiple gold medals, an The winner of the 2020 William Hill Sports Book Of The Year annual literary competition, and highlighted by Matt on Simon Mayo’s book Podcast , which is recommended enough for me! On the plus side , the narrative is brilliantly translated, and reads like a Cold War / contemporary spy novel in places The Author was at the forefront of industrial scale doping / cheating , on behalf of the Russian sports authorities from the 1980s until 2016 , enabling the false winning of ,multiple gold medals, and world records in successive Summer and Winter Olympic Games! He also masqueraded as a member of various IOC anti- doping committee’s, while consistently tampering with his own countries athletes lab samples to falsify random testing These actions have inevitably come back to bite , Dr Gregory , in that he’s separated from his family in exile,and effectively in Witness Protection in the US , nevertheless it’s difficult for this reader to have too much sympathy, as one remembers the stories of the hard work and sacrifice of clean athletes , many of whom, had their dreams shattered by this criminality In conclusion, I found the abbreviations for the various Sporting Bodies, and chemicals / drugs throughout this story, confusing at times - read in Kindle form, thus accessing the glossary was problematic, and to be fair I initially thought I would be more interested in the subject matter than I turned out to be ( which is down to me , not the book, it has to be said) 。。。more

Justin Smith

9/10 a brilliant book and really interesting about the Russian sports and steroid usage。 The way about the they go about it and how smart it all is is really interesting。 Would definitely recommend

George Kinnell

This will ruin professional/international sport for you。I'd already seen the film Icarus several times but the level of detail and information about Grigory's life and work is so much greater in the book。 This will ruin professional/international sport for you。I'd already seen the film Icarus several times but the level of detail and information about Grigory's life and work is so much greater in the book。 。。。more

Michala Kristofova

Napisane je to naozaj zaujimavo a putavo, avsak mam trosku moralny problem prepnut “len tak” ako autor z jednej strany na druhu a tvarit sa, ze zrazu oni su ti najhorsi, hlavne po tom vsetkom, co sa udialo a na com sa podielal。 Zavana mi to trosku alibizmom。 Kazdopadne, velmi podnetne citanie na nejaku dalsiu diskusiu。

Arunaabh Shah

I work in anti-doping, I work with people who were mentioned in the book and I had always assumed I was involved in the good fight against an evil force。 But Dr。 Rodchenkov’s account provides greater insight not only into that evil force but into the honest truth about doping and it’s impact。 I 100% agree with his statement that the fight against doping should be aimed at protecting the “honest” athlete rather than the commonly used misnomer “clean” athlete。

Sasha Kurup

A must-read for everyone who watches the Olympics。 Or follows any international sporting event。This book and the documentary 'Icarus' perfectly compliment each other, they explore different areas, and come together to form a diptych of the doping scandal。 You can make your own conclusions about Dr。 Rodchenkov, a rather interesting character, but one thing is for sure- this is a an account from the eye of the storm。 And he writes well enough。 A must-read for everyone who watches the Olympics。 Or follows any international sporting event。This book and the documentary 'Icarus' perfectly compliment each other, they explore different areas, and come together to form a diptych of the doping scandal。 You can make your own conclusions about Dr。 Rodchenkov, a rather interesting character, but one thing is for sure- this is a an account from the eye of the storm。 And he writes well enough。 。。。more

Pavlina Potuckova

chilling book, really worth reading though

Peter Lipták

Neuveriteľné

Susan Gaston

I had seen the documentary Icarus and wanted to know more。 Perhaps it would be better to not know the range of doping in the Olympics。 Eyes wide open。

Mark Green

If anyone wants to understand why the Russia's were nominally banned at recent Olympics, this is the book。 This lays bare the systematic cheating, organised by the state。 Sadly it shows that the IOC and other sports governing bodies have been remiss at stopping cheating in Sport。 Having just watched the 2020 Olympics。。。。 with the difficulties of out of competition testing being hard due to Covid, you wonder what you can trust。 If anyone wants to understand why the Russia's were nominally banned at recent Olympics, this is the book。 This lays bare the systematic cheating, organised by the state。 Sadly it shows that the IOC and other sports governing bodies have been remiss at stopping cheating in Sport。 Having just watched the 2020 Olympics。。。。 with the difficulties of out of competition testing being hard due to Covid, you wonder what you can trust。 。。。more

Chris Baker

Extremely well written book, that is very easy to understand even if you aren't a chemist。 Extremely well written book, that is very easy to understand even if you aren't a chemist。 。。。more

Rui Bento

Sums up my thoughts on this one better than I could - https://www。goodreads。com/review/show。。。 Sums up my thoughts on this one better than I could - https://www。goodreads。com/review/show。。。 。。。more

Nick

Having just watched the 2020(2021) Tokyo Olympics I picked this book up on a whim。 I'm an avid sport fan and was aware that Russian athletes would be competing under the Russian Olympic Committee banner rather than under the Russian flag due to ongoing doping abuses; however I never quite appreciated how endemic it was in Russian sport until reading this book and on top of that Rodchenkov almost made it sound easy。 This book won't be for everyone but if you like me are curious about why the Russ Having just watched the 2020(2021) Tokyo Olympics I picked this book up on a whim。 I'm an avid sport fan and was aware that Russian athletes would be competing under the Russian Olympic Committee banner rather than under the Russian flag due to ongoing doping abuses; however I never quite appreciated how endemic it was in Russian sport until reading this book and on top of that Rodchenkov almost made it sound easy。 This book won't be for everyone but if you like me are curious about why the Russians can't hear their national anthem when they win gold medals then this will explain all! 。。。more

Martina

Ťažko oddeliť samotnú knihu od jej autora, ktorý mi nie je sympatický :DBez ohľadu na to ide o odvážny náhľad do ruskej kultúry, kde je víťazstvo viac ako morálka。Autor (samotný riaditeľ antidopingového centra) odhaľuje ako prebiehali dopingové podvody v Rusku, ako vymieňali a ničili vzorky, a najmä to, kam až táto "dopingová hierarchia" siahala。Napísaná dobre, ale nie všetkému som rozumela a miestami som sa strácala。 Ťažko oddeliť samotnú knihu od jej autora, ktorý mi nie je sympatický :DBez ohľadu na to ide o odvážny náhľad do ruskej kultúry, kde je víťazstvo viac ako morálka。Autor (samotný riaditeľ antidopingového centra) odhaľuje ako prebiehali dopingové podvody v Rusku, ako vymieňali a ničili vzorky, a najmä to, kam až táto "dopingová hierarchia" siahala。Napísaná dobre, ale nie všetkému som rozumela a miestami som sa strácala。 。。。more

Gabby Bytautaite

10/10 👏🏼

Sammy

One of those books where it doesn’t even matter how well-written it is (and it is)。 A story like this tells itself。 The head of Russia’s anti-doping lab, and mastermind of its cheating schemes over decades, is first turned on by, and then turns whistleblower on, the system he helped build。 The book was written from witness protection and if it was fictional you would call it far-fetched。 Read this book if you have any interest in sports ethics, Russia, or just crazy stories。

Gemma ✨ a bookish blether

One of my most surprising reads of the year! I didn't have any interest surrounding doping in sports, but the author told his story with plenty of details to keep me interested。 I also really appreciated a lot of the additional information about his life in Russia and expanding on the picture so we got a fuller idea of his life。 I think it really helped explain how it was expected of his and a natural next step to start hiding this evidence。 The audiobook was also a great choice。 I listened to t One of my most surprising reads of the year! I didn't have any interest surrounding doping in sports, but the author told his story with plenty of details to keep me interested。 I also really appreciated a lot of the additional information about his life in Russia and expanding on the picture so we got a fuller idea of his life。 I think it really helped explain how it was expected of his and a natural next step to start hiding this evidence。 The audiobook was also a great choice。 I listened to the book all in one day and it was so easy to follow along。 I think the author did a good job of keeping the writing brief and avoided over explaining。 。。。more

Jill

An interesting subject, which I imagine is more widespread than we imagine。 It raises more questions than can be covered by Rodchenkov’s book。 It’s packed with scientific data and probably best suited to an audience of either athletes or chemists。 It’s publication date has coincided with the 2020 Olympics, bringing to the fore a greater awareness and watchfulness of the world of doping。 The author jumps around in the timeframe which at times makes it hard to follow。 Leaving aside all the technic An interesting subject, which I imagine is more widespread than we imagine。 It raises more questions than can be covered by Rodchenkov’s book。 It’s packed with scientific data and probably best suited to an audience of either athletes or chemists。 It’s publication date has coincided with the 2020 Olympics, bringing to the fore a greater awareness and watchfulness of the world of doping。 The author jumps around in the timeframe which at times makes it hard to follow。 Leaving aside all the technical blurb, names and organisations it could well read as an autobiography, as Rodchenkov has certainly lived a life like no other。 By the time I finished reading I felt as if I had run a marathon as it certainly took some discipline to continue as it’s not an easy read。 。。。more

Nick Iwan

This book will change your opinion on sport, and gives you some serious insight into how athletes manage to elude doping tests。 As a massive lance Armstrong fan, I’m aware of the doping situation in professional sport especially cycling, but this book opened up a whole new world regarding techniques used to trick testing controls all over the world。 Easy 5 stars。 If interested you might consider watching the documentary “icarus”。 I loved both。

Paavo Pere

Vaikuttaa siltä, että nämä venäläiset pelaavat vilunkipeliä。 :/

John Christmas

Rodchenkov's important book sheds light on the mentalities of the people within Putin's government, giving a rare glimpse of the ways they think and operate。 The assumptions they make that cheating is always good and appropriate and anyone who is honest is a traitor are highly disturbing but good to know about。 And best of all, the reader can learn that there are honest Russians, such as the author himself! Highly recommended。 Rodchenkov's important book sheds light on the mentalities of the people within Putin's government, giving a rare glimpse of the ways they think and operate。 The assumptions they make that cheating is always good and appropriate and anyone who is honest is a traitor are highly disturbing but good to know about。 And best of all, the reader can learn that there are honest Russians, such as the author himself! Highly recommended。 。。。more

Miia

Mielenkiintoinen kirja Venäjän doping-ohjelmasta。 Jotkut kerrotut asiat tuntuivat niin absurdeilta, että vaikea uskoa niiden olevan totta, mutta kai se niin on。 Usko puhtaaseen urheiluun karisi kyllä kirjan edetessä。 Rodchenkov itse nosti myös paljon pointteja dopingin käyttöön ja sen eettisyyteen liittyen, ja nämä olivat itselle ehkä kirjan kiinnostavin osa。 Äänikirjassa välillä haastava pysyä perässä, koska esim。 lääkeaineiden vierasperäisiä nimiä vilisee niin paljon。

Markus Lustig

Huikea tarina, joka taitaa olla vielä kesken。 Sekä Rodchenkovin että Venäjän dopingohjelman osalle。 Usko puhtaaseen urheiluun karisi tätä kirjaa lukiessa ja skeptisyys valtasi alaa。 Kirja kertoo Sotshin olympialaisten systemaattisesta dopinghuijauksesta, miten siihen päästiin ja miten se paljastui。 Tarina on karu ja oikeastaan vain alleviivaa vuosien 2020 ja 2021 tapahtumia Venäjällä, Alexei Navalnyin kohtaloa ja piirtää selkeää kuvaa Venäjän tavasta suhtautua omiin kansalaisiinsa, oikeuteen ja Huikea tarina, joka taitaa olla vielä kesken。 Sekä Rodchenkovin että Venäjän dopingohjelman osalle。 Usko puhtaaseen urheiluun karisi tätä kirjaa lukiessa ja skeptisyys valtasi alaa。 Kirja kertoo Sotshin olympialaisten systemaattisesta dopinghuijauksesta, miten siihen päästiin ja miten se paljastui。 Tarina on karu ja oikeastaan vain alleviivaa vuosien 2020 ja 2021 tapahtumia Venäjällä, Alexei Navalnyin kohtaloa ja piirtää selkeää kuvaa Venäjän tavasta suhtautua omiin kansalaisiinsa, oikeuteen ja totuuteen。 Kirja käy jopa eräänlaisesta dekkaritarinasta, mutta rikos on todellinen。 Niinhän sitä sanotaan, että totuus on tarua ihmeellisempää, ja tämä kirja vahvistaa sen。 Rodchenkovin olisi tiedemiehenä kannattanut pitäytyä kuivassa ja selkeässä kirjoitustyylissä, muutamat valitut ja hassusti pudotellut kielikuvat enemmän huvittivat kuin toivat tekstiin eloa。 。。。more

Katie。dorny

A brilliant and detailed memoir about the man who built and then single handedly destroyed the Russian doping scheme。Listen to the audiobook was a brilliantly immersive experience。 The detail, storytelling and everything else rolled into one ended up turning this story into a book that would be a bestseller in fiction。

Kata

Kuunneltiin tätä miehen kanssa automatkoilla (miehen toiveesta, heh, ei kuulu ihan minun lempigenreen)。 Olipahan yllättävän kiinnostava katsaus dopingin maailmaan ja Grigory Rodchenkovin elämään。 Äänikirjana tämä tuntui välillä vain vähän pitkähköltä ja kuulijoissa oli ajoittain havaittavissa pientä puutumista。

meri

Johan oli tarina。 Osin tämä oli tuttu jo jostain parin vuoden takaisesta Kuukausiliitteen jutusta。 Kirja oli kiinnostava ja nopeatempoinen pituudestaan huolimatta, joskin eri virastojen nimilyhenteet saivat välillä pään pyörälle。 Kirjan englanninkielinen nimi on jotain että ”how I brought down Putin’s doping empire” tms mikä indikoi Rodchenkovin olleen tarinan sankari jo ennen kuin asiat menivät hänen kohdallaan pieleen。 Hänen suhtautumisensa dopingiin onkin erikoinen osa kirjaa, sillä hän taval Johan oli tarina。 Osin tämä oli tuttu jo jostain parin vuoden takaisesta Kuukausiliitteen jutusta。 Kirja oli kiinnostava ja nopeatempoinen pituudestaan huolimatta, joskin eri virastojen nimilyhenteet saivat välillä pään pyörälle。 Kirjan englanninkielinen nimi on jotain että ”how I brought down Putin’s doping empire” tms mikä indikoi Rodchenkovin olleen tarinan sankari jo ennen kuin asiat menivät hänen kohdallaan pieleen。 Hänen suhtautumisensa dopingiin onkin erikoinen osa kirjaa, sillä hän tavallaan sekä ihannoi että puhuu sen puolesta mutta myös lopulta on se avainhahmo joka paljasti tuon dopingvyyhdin ja sanoo olevansa oikealla, totuuden puhujien puolella。 Sopiva luettava pian Pohjois-Koreasta kertovan kirjan jälkeen – yhtymäkohtia valtioiden välillä on edelleen melko paljon。 。。。more

Scifimoth

I'd never have chosen this book myself - competition sports are about as interesting to me as waiting at an airport - but this is such an enthralling story I'd highly recommend it。 I'd never have chosen this book myself - competition sports are about as interesting to me as waiting at an airport - but this is such an enthralling story I'd highly recommend it。 。。。more

Gareth

If all the facts are true, it's an incredible account。 However, the book could have been written better as it can be quite confusing at times。 If all the facts are true, it's an incredible account。 However, the book could have been written better as it can be quite confusing at times。 。。。more

Augusto Bernardi

I'm a giant fan of the movie Icarus。 In fact it's one of my favorite movies and it might be one of the most unique and insane stories of all time so I am very familiar with the content of this book。 So I wasn't surprised at any point in this book。 This book does reveal a more intricate and in depth look on the doping program which indeed was fascinating but I guess this book is really for the big fans of Icarus who wanted a more inside perspective。 What I particularly liked was Grigory's perspec I'm a giant fan of the movie Icarus。 In fact it's one of my favorite movies and it might be one of the most unique and insane stories of all time so I am very familiar with the content of this book。 So I wasn't surprised at any point in this book。 This book does reveal a more intricate and in depth look on the doping program which indeed was fascinating but I guess this book is really for the big fans of Icarus who wanted a more inside perspective。 What I particularly liked was Grigory's perspective of the soviet union and life in Russia。 Not necessarily that his life is a good representation of the common man in the soviet union, but rather that he lived this bizarre dual life that is so representative of the twisted and scheming ways of the soviet union itself。 At least from the western perspective。 This constant fear and anxiety of this danger which never really reveals itself explicitly but is always somehow vigilant in the office as a fsb worker, maybe listening into phone calls, saying one thing to you and flat out the opposite in public。 No wonder Grigory is such a fan of the novel 1984。 His life is the shade of gray。 Neither fully black or white。 Although he is quite literally a criminal, his crime being fraud at a gigantic scale, he is a very likeable and relatable guy and you really care and feel for his living situation now。 Goes to show the humanity in all sorts of people。 A more fascinating perspective about Grigory in specific was his understanding and use of steroids and the doping program。 All sorts of steroids that I had never even heard of。 Grigory shows how knowledgeable he is in regards to the chemical aspect of steroids and also creative he is in order to use that knowledge to somehow fool the authorities。 As someone that does sports on a daily basis, I'm not gonna lie, I was jealous that I don't have the access to this advanced program。 It simply isn't possible to do it safely and legally without the help from a 20 million dollar lab。 What I was looking forward to was Grigory dropping some names of athletes that took part of the doping program。 And sure enough he did actually reveal quite a few champions even but unfortunately I simply don't have the knowledge of the names of Russian Olympic champions。 It was quite funny how dumb and how insignificant their opinion or influence on the whole scheme was。Something else which was unique to this book as opposed to the movie was that it have you a much better perspective on someone who grew up and lived in the late Soviet Union。 Grigory shows how resources from the external world were very rare。 Everything from literature to medicine。 After the fall of the soviet union things got even more sure with poverty which is something the West would NEVER advertise it portray the difficulty of dealing with the collapse of life for the people that lived in that system。 He also showed how east Germany, although being communists themselves like the Soviet Union, were a country of their own and actually had better resources for some things and we're great sports cheaters in their time as well。 。。。more