Whistleblower seeks dismissal of libel lawsuit

The whistleblower who exposed Russian cheating at the 2014 Olympics filed a motion Monday to dismiss a libel lawsuit against him, which his lawyers portrayed as a ploy led by the Russian owner of the Brooklyn Nets to reveal his whereabouts.

Former Moscow lab director Grigory Rodchenkov has been living in hiding in the United States, fearful of Russian retribution since revealing his country’s elaborate scheme to cheat at the Sochi Games.

Rodchenkov seeks dismissal of the libel lawsuit supported by Nets owner Mikhail Prokhorov on behalf of three Russian biathletes whose medals from the Sochi Games were stripped for doping.

He also filed a countersuit against Prokhorov, the former president of Russia’s biathlon federation. Rodchenkov’s lawyers say Prokhorov’s support of the biathletes is part of a scheme to flush out Rodchenkov from hiding.

“We have every confidence that this litigation was not started to vindicate the athlete, but to try to locate and identify Dr. Rodchenkov’s location,” said his attorney, Jim Walden.

Walden said if any depositions are needed in the cases, they will happen remotely so nobody can find Rodchenkov.

“I think it would be foolhardy for us to lump ourselves into a false sense of security” regarding Rodchenkov’s safety, Walden said.

Rodchenkov issued a statement saying he is “healthy, well and well-protected.”