PARIS -- Somewhere in Russia, computer hackers must be congratulating themselves on a well-executed con.By stealing and then publishing the private medical files of more than 120 international athletes from a World Anti-Doping Agency database, the self-described Fancy Bears hack team has diverted attention from Russias systemic abuse of banned performance-enhancing drugs in sport, the biggest doping scandal since East German officials fed powerful steroids to teenagers during the Cold War.The hackers tactic, used by tricksters everywhere, of waving one hand so people forget what the other is doing, has worked spectacularly. In July and August, sport was focused on how to punish Russia for a government-sanctioned program of doping and deception detailed by successive WADA probes. Russian track and field athletes, with one exception, missed the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro as a result, and Russia was banned outright from the Paralympic Games.But now, in part because of the hackers mischief-making, the spotlight has shifted to non-Russian athletes whose data was stolen and onto WADA itself, left red-faced by the electronic intrusion.Instead of focusing single-mindedly on how to wean Russia off its cheating addiction and protect Russian youngsters from being strong-armed into regimens of needles and pills, sport has been fed a red herring, sucked into debate about whether the global anti-doping system is fit for purpose. Olympic leaders meet this Saturday to discuss WADAs future.If they listen carefully, perhaps theyll hear bears in the background, chuckling.The hackers must not have the last laugh. Its time to call time on their scam.For starters, the stolen info theyve published is not, as they claim on their website, sensational proof that non-Russian athletes have been doping with WADAs backing. Quite the opposite: Its proof that sport has a system in place that allows athletes, like the rest of us, to take medicines we need.Take, for example, Kathleen Baker, who won a relay gold medal and individual silver in Rio. The American swimmer has Crohns disease, a chronic inflammation of the digestive tract that causes persistent diarrhea, bleeding, weight loss, cramps and other symptoms.Swimmings governing body granted Baker medical waivers to take anti-inflammatory steroids that normally would be banned for athletes in competition. Her waivers were among more than 200 stolen and published by the Fancy Bears. Others got waivers to treat asthma, attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder, and other recognized medical conditions. Several have waivers allowing them to carry emergency syringes of adrenaline, a stimulant banned for athletes in competition but which can be life-saving for sufferers of severe allergic reactions.Such people really have to have adrenaline handy; if you dont you can die, Ken Fitch, an Australian sports doctor with long experience of the waiver system, said in an interview.Such exemptions, in short, bear zero relation to the elaborate, hard-core doping schemes that operated in Russia, since exposed by two WADA-commissioned investigations, with designer cocktails of banned steroids, dirty athletes drug-test samples made to disappear and replaced with supposedly clean ones, and the Russian FSB security agency part of the plot, seemingly finding a way to pop open what were meant to be tamper-proof sample bottles.Also important: A large slice of the Fancy Bears leak is outdated, including waivers from 2007, 2008 and 2009 for drugs that then were more closely regulated but which athletes can now take freely within reason, because they are no longer considered potentially performance-enhancing if not abused.These include common asthma medications. Of the 127 athletes whose information was stolen and released so far, 53 had prescriptions for asthma inhalers and anti-inflammatory steroid injections into joints, not muscles. Today, these treatments dont require waivers, because WADAs rules have evolved with science.In short, in many cases, the Fancy Bears are peddling moldy fluff, not proof of anything untoward.WADA, based in Canada, says it has been told by law enforcement agencies that the hacks originated from Russia. Russian authorities dispute the allegation. Tony Brenton, formerly Britains top diplomat in Moscow, says Russia has a record of disinformation campaigns designed to distract from its own behavior.Im sure that all this hacking, whether officially sanctioned or not, is aimed by patriotic Russians to demonstrate that they are not the ones guilty of doping, Brenton said in an interview. They are very good at putting up these rival narratives designed to obscure what are obvious truths.A few of the Therapeutic Use Exemption certificates raised eyebrows and necessary questions about whether the waiver system is too easily gamed by unscrupulous athletes seeking banned drugs for performance enhancement, not medical need.Tour de France winner Bradley Wiggins found himself having to explain waivers for corticosteroid injections in 2011, 2012 and 2013. He says they were to prevent chronic hay fever. Fitch says that of all of the leaked TUEs, thats one of the ones that really, really concerned me.Im not saying that he did it for performance enhancement, but it was a TUE that wouldnt stand scrutiny today, he said.Still, its a giant leap from there to the far bigger and more pressing problem of doping run amok in Russia.So beware of those bears.---John Leicester is an international sports columnist for The Associated Press. 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Vettel, who has already clinched his fourth straight F1 title, enters the finale with a chance to equal Michael Schumachers 13 victories in a year and match the record of nine consecutive wins by Alberto Ascari in the 1952 and 1953 seasons. Here are the most significant NFL players who got banged up in Week 3:Russell Wilson, QB, Seattle Seahawks: Wilson came into Week 3 with a banged up right ankle, and he suffered a sprained left knee when he was dragged to the ground by Eli Harold?on Sunday. Wilson missed one snap before coming back in to finish the possession. Doctors ran him through a number of tests on the sideline, and on the next offensive possession, backup quarterback Trevone Boykin replaced Wilson. Foxs Pam Oliver said the team told her Wilson was going to sit for the remainder of the game, regardless of injury, due to the Seahawks big lead. Oliver reported that Wilson would not return to the game. According to ESPN Seahawks reporter Sheil Kapadia, Wilson has a sprained MCL and is expected to play this week.?Jeremy Langford, RB, Chicago Bears:?Langford suffered a sprained ankle in the third quarter against the Cowboys. He was carted to the locker room for further evaluation, and was quickly ruled out for the remainder of the game. According to ESPNs Adam Schefter, Langford is expected to miss 4-6 weeks. Rookie?Jordan Howard compiled 92 total yards on Sunday night as the Bears primary running back.Dez Bryant, WR, Dallas Cowboys:?Bryant went down early in Sunday nights game against the Bears with a sprained right knee injury. He limped off the field but returned to the game after missing a few plays. According to NBCs Michele Tafoya, trainers wrapped Bryants knee following the Cowboys first possession. After the game, Bryant told reporters, Ill be back. I wont be too long.Manti Teo, LB, San Diego Chargers: Teo sustained a noncontact Achilles injury in the first quarter against Indianapolis. He attempted to make a cut and immediately went to the ground and grabbed his lower left leg. Sources told ESPN that Teo tore his Achilles and would have season-ending surgery.?Shane Vereen, RB, New York Giants:?Vereen tore his triceps on Sunday. The team initially feared he would miss the remainder of the season but they are holding out hope Vereen can return later this year. He played 33 snaps on Sunday, gaining 67 yards and scoring a touchdown as starter Rashad Jennings sat out with an injury.?Lawrence Timmons, LB, Pittsburgh Steelers:?Timmons injured his left shin in the first half and was initially listed as probable before the team announced he was being taken to a local hospital for further evaluation. He did not return to the game.DeAngelo Hall, S,?Redskins: Hall had to be helped off the field and could not put any pressure on his right leg after he made a tackle in the second quarter. He was officially diagnosed with a torn ACL and will miss the remainder of the season.Bashaud Breeland, CB,?Redskins:?Breeland, the Redskins No. 2 cornerback, sustained an ankle injury in the first quarter and was ruled out for the game. According to ESPN Redskins reporter John Keim, Washington will use Greg Toler as the No. 2 corner against the Giants potent WR corps and Dashaun Phillips in the slot, where he struggled the first two weeeks.ddddddddddddordan Cameron, TE, Miami Dolphins:?Cameron left Sundays game as trainers evaluated him for a possible concussion. The team listed him questionable, and he did not return. Cameron sustained three concussions in the two seasons before joining Miami in 2015. Hes expected to miss Thursdays game against the Bengals.?Jimmie Ward, CB, San Francisco 49ers: Ward sustained a noncontact quad injury while covering a kickoff in the second quarter. The team ruled him out for the remainder of the game, with?Keith Reaser replacing Ward in the lineup.Alex Boone, G, Minnesota Vikings:?Alex Boone limped off the field after a 3-yard Jerick McKinnon run in the second quarter. He was carted to the locker room with a hip injury. Vikings QB Sam Bradford was under pressure early and often on Sunday against Carolinas menacing defense.Eli Rogers, WR, Pittsburgh Steelers:?Rogers had two catches for 32 yards on Sunday before the team ruled him out for the remainder of the game because of a toe injury.Menelik Watson, T, Oakland Raiders:?Watson, who left the Raiders Week 1 game (groin), sustained another groin injury Sunday against the Titans. He had to be helped off the field, and the team listed him as doubtful to return.DeSean Jackson, WR, Washington Redskins: Jackson injured his left ankle in the preseason, and he tweaked the same ankle in the second quarter against the Giants. He limped off the field after failing to haul in a deep pass down the middle but returned in the third quarter.Jared Cook, TE, Green Bay Packers:?Cook dropped a would-be touchdown in the second quarter and?injured his right ankle on the play. The team ruled him out for the remainder of the game. Cook isnt expected to be out for the season, but the Packers are still trying to determine whether Cook will miss only a game or multiple games after the teams Week 4 bye.Robert Golden, S, Pittsburgh Steelers: Golden, the Steelers starting safety, sustained a hamstring injury in the first quarter and was almost immediately listed as doubtful to return. Rookie Sean Davis saw more playing time with Golden sidelined.Eli Apple, CB, New York Giants: Apple was downgraded from questionable to out after he suffered a hamstring injury against the Redskins.?Dominique Rodgers-Cromartie?replaced Apple in the lineup, but he also left the game with an injury in the third quarter (groin). Rodgers-Cromartie did not return and ESPN Giants reporter Jordan Raanan saw him limping badly in the locker room after the game.William Hayes, DE, Los Angeles Rams:?Hayes injured his ankle early in the Rams game against Tampa Bay. He was carted to the locker room but returned to the game.Tavon Wilson, S, Detroit Lions:?Wilson, the Lions starting safety, was ruled out because of a neck injury he sustained in the first half. Rafael Bush replaced Wilson for the most part, though the Lions used Quandre Diggs at safety for a few plays. ' ' '