From Inside the Games
Russian whistleblower Grigory Rodchenkov plans to take legal action in the United States courts against a Russian oligarch and five unnamed conspirators, it was revealed today.
Rodchenkov, former head of the Moscow Anti-doping Laboratory, has provided much of the evidence that has led to Russia becoming a pariah in world sport, including being banned from competing under their own flag at the Winter Olympic Games in Pyeongchang in February.
Jim Walden of Walden Macht & Haran, lawyer for Rodchenkov, together with co-counsel Derek Borchardt of Patterson Belknap Webb & Tyler, are due to announce full details of the case at a press conference in New York City tomorrow at 10:00 am.
A new statement from Rodchenkov is also due to be released at the press conference along with previously unpublished documents.
“Dr. Rodchenkov’s legal team will release a written statement explaining the various components of the new legal measures that defend him from Russia’s incessant misinformation campaign in the media, and threats of retaliation, intimidation and harassment by the Kremlin and its proxies,” a statement published on behalf of Walden said tonight.
The name of the Russian oligarch Rodchenkov plans to take the action against has so far not been announced.
Earlier this year, it was revealed that Russian billionaire Mikhail Prokhorov, owner of the National Basketball Association team Brooklyn Nets, was financially backing a lawsuit against Rodchenkov.
The lawsuit claims Rodchenkov defamed three now-retired female biathletes.
Prokhorov, 52, was President of the Russian Biathlon Federation in 2014 before and during the Winter Olympic Games in Sochi.
