Episode 1819: David Walsh On ‘The Russian Affair’, The Couple Who Toppled The Russian State-Sponsored Doping Program, And Team Sky
Vitaly Stepanov was an earnest, determined employee of Russia’s anti-doping agency looking to keep sport clean. Yuliya Rusanova was an international 800m runner representing Russia and benefitting from the country’s state-sponsored doping programme. Somehow, they got married.
The Russian Affair is out this Thursday. Today’s Sunday Times magazine has this extract.
Russia doping scandal: the whistleblower couple who risked their liveshttps://t.co/UxuCNTNHcM
— David Walsh (@DavidWalshST) July 19, 2020
David Walsh of the Sunday Times joins us today to chat about his new book, ‘The Russian Affair’ which tells the story of how the very unlikely pair of Vitaly and Yuliya exposed systemic doping in their home country, ultimately resulting in Russia being handed down a four-year ban from international competition last year.
David describes how he came to know the Stepanovs, why he thinks of Yuliya as a heroic figure despite her doping history and how he sees her in a different light to someone like Lance Armstrong, whom he pursued for so long.
This arrived this afternoon. Extract will be in The Sunday Times magazine on July 19, books in shops on July 23. It’s been a long time in the making but seriously pleased for Vitaly and Yuliya Stepanov. pic.twitter.com/r2EiItYoH9
— David Walsh (@DavidWalshST) July 10, 2020
Plus some of the Second Captains team may be on holiday but their egos ain’t, Pat Kenny’s being pedantic again, and we return to titanium jaw on Nevsky Prospect.
Click the image at the top of the page to play the show. Monday’s shows are free to all and Isolating with David O’Doherty is free on Mondays and Thursdays – to listen to our programming throughout the rest of the week, join the Second Captains World Service. It’s independent, commercial-free and member-led with feature interviews, breaking news, Richie Sadlier’s Player’s Chair, The Politics Podcast and lots of added extras.
While Murph and Ken loaf about the countryside on their holidays, consummate professionals Eoin and @RichieSadlier get down to the serious business of podcasting after a wild night of football
OUT NOWhttps://t.co/cTMVw0jXjx pic.twitter.com/fG3tbuZZwb
— Second Captains (@SecondCaptains) July 23, 2020
Go to PatreonOne of the most dominant teams in sports history features in today’s Murph and Mal’s Movie Clubhttps://t.co/AbT7PRHAUU pic.twitter.com/PDTAYKdwR2
— Second Captains (@SecondCaptains) July 22, 2020