Russian Sports Agent & U.S. Marathon Officials Under Federal Investigation Ahead Of NYC Race

Another Russian doping scandal has come to light, although its epicenter is in a surprising location: the Upper West Side of Manhattan, New York.

Russian Sports Agent And U.S. Marathon Officials Under Investigation

Just days before Sunday’s New York City Marathon, federal officials have begun conducting a surveillance operation on a Russian sports agent who lives on West 104th Street in New York. Officials are investigating the agent, Andrey Baranov, on suspicion of bribery and corruption, according to several sources familiar with the case who requested anonymity since the probe is ongoing.

The investigators are assessing whether Mr. Baranov conspired with American marathon organizers– including NYC Marathon officials– to permit athletes using banned substances to compete in their events.

This investigation follows this summer’s Rio Olympics scandal, which saw several Russian athletes banned from the competition due to doping revelations. Russian track and field athletes were first discovered to have engaged in doping, and eventually several other members of Russia’s team were also revealed to have been using banned substances. This prompted several other countries to call for a ban of the entire Russian delegation, though this never actually occurred: more than 100 Russian athletes were barred from competing instead.

Mr. Baranov has not been charged with any crimes, and he has previously been depicted as a whistle-blower who exposed cheating and corruption in track and field. It remains unclear exactly how far along the government is in its investigation.

The agent vehemently denied any criminal activity in an interview on Thursday morning. Baranov stated he had “absolutely not” entered doped athletes into American competitions, nor had he bribed or made any sort of inappropriate payments to race organizers. He added he was unaware of the government’s investigation.

A spokesman for the New York City Marathon stated organizers had no knowledge of criminal activity within their operation, and that nobody in the organization had received a bribe from Mr. Baranov.

The federal inquiry, which involved plainclothes agents monitoring Mr. Baranov’s prewar apartment building between Broadway and West End Avenue, includes the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United States’ attorney’s office for the Eastern District of New York.

Authorities are investigating possible racketeering and money laundering offenses dating back multiple years and involving the organizers of marquee American track and field competitions.

Grigory Rodchenkov, the former longtime head of Russia’s anti-doping laboratory, told The New York Times in May– following the beginning of an investigation by the Justice Department– that the Russian government ran an elaborate program to help the country’s athletes use banned, performance-enhancing drugs and go undetected.

Now, United States law enforcement officials have focused on the agents behind those athletes, and the money they may have routed through American banks — an approach that echoes the continuing criminal inquiry that has rocked FIFA, soccer’s world governing body. In the FIFA case, the same Brooklyn federal prosecutor’s office brought charges of bribery, racketeering, money laundering and wire fraud against some of soccer’s top officials. Eighteen people have been convicted thus far.

A similar investigation is now being conducted with regards to Mr. Baranov, 50, and his possible interference with the NYC Marathon.

If payments– for appearance fees, race winnings or illicit reasons — traveled through American banks, the government could claim jurisdiction. Prize money is often awarded to the top 10 or 15 finishers.

American authorities have also investigated computer hacks on the World Anti-Doping Agency and the United States Anti-Doping Agency; both breaches were attributed to a Russian cyber-espionage group believed to be associated with G.R.U., the Russian military intelligence agency.

Mr. Baranov is very familiar with sports science. He graduated from the Lesgaft National State University of Physical Education, Sport and Health in St. Petersburg, Russia. Records show he settled in New York as early as the 1990s. He has run the New York City Marathon six times, finishing in 2 hours 36 minutes 39 seconds in 2000, his best performance.

In 2003, he founded his company, Spartanik Running School, “to bring the dominance of Eastern European athletes at the Olympic competitions of 1980s back to the highest level,” according to Spartanik promotional materials.

On Thursday, Mr. Baranov said that none of his clients were registered to run in Sunday’s marathon. “It’s a private company,” he said of the organization that runs the race. “They can choose what they want to do.”

ZURICH, SWITZERLAND – AUGUST 17: Aleksey Reunkov of Russia celebrates as he wins bronze in the Men’s Marathon during day six of the 22nd European Athletics Championships on the road race course on August 17, 2014 in Zurich, Switzerland. (Photo by Dean Mouhtaropoulos/Getty Images)