The William Hill Sports Book of the Year 2020 Winner
It is our great pleasure to confirm The Rodchenkov Affair: How I Brought Down Putin’s Secret Doping Empire by Grigory Rodchenkov as the winner of the William Hill Sports Book of the Year 2020.
From creating the most sophisticated doping programme in world sport to blowing the whistle on the outrageous practices of Soviet athletics, Grigory Rodchenkov delivers a pulsating narrative that reads like the purest conspiracy thriller.
‘The Rodchenkov Affair was praised for its searing honesty and bravery as Grigory Rodchenkov explains in gripping detail how he helped ensure Russian athletes who cheated through doping, escape detection.’
Alyson Rudd, Chair of Judges
The Shortlist
In a thoroughly inspiring tale of overcoming all odds, Muay Thai kickboxing champion and captain of the British team, Ruqsana Begum shares her incredible journey to stardom.
Against a backdrop of rising pre-war tension, America, Britain and Nazi Germany strove to be the first to reach the summit of the Himalayas, and Ellsworth recounts the adventure, excitement and import of the rivalry with pace and urgency.
A fascinating and ultimately tragic account of the rebel West Indian cricketers paid huge sums to tour apartheid South Africa, The Unforgiven examines the lifetime cost of an impetuous, youthful decision.
Delicate and deeply poignant, Ridley’s chronicle of a summer spent watching county cricket in the shadow of debilitating grief is a tender meditation on sport’s power to heal and console.
Jaw-droppingly candid and completely immersive, Rodchenkov’s revelations from a career systematically cheating global athletics institutions make for both enlightening and enraging reading.
The Longlist
Please note: Unfortunately, two of this year’s selected titles – Surf, Sweat and Tears by Andy Martin and Fringes by Ben Mercer – are currently unavailable on our website and so are not shown in our list below.
Previous Prize Winners
Sign In / Register
Sign In
Download the Waterstones App
Would you like to proceed to the App store to download the Waterstones App?
Click & Collect
Please note that owing to current COVID-19 restrictions, many of our shops are closed. Find out more by clicking here.