BERLIN – A major row over press freedom has erupted in the sports world. The German Speed Skating and Short Track Association (DESG) sparked outrage on Thursday by banning two prominent investigative journalists from an official press conference.
The excluded reporters, Hajo Seppelt and Jörg Mebus, played key roles in a recent ARD broadcaster report. This report alleged significant irregularities within the DESG. It also highlighted a deeply strained relationship between athletes and leadership ahead of the Milan/Cortina Winter Olympics.
A “Flagrant Violation” of Press Freedom
The press conference aimed to address the very allegations raised by the ARD report. However, by barring the whistleblowing journalists, the DESG faced immediate backlash from media advocates. The Association of German Sports Journalists (VDS) described the ban as a “clear violation of press freedom.”
In a strongly worded letter, the VDS reminded the DESG of its public accountability. Because the association receives government funding, it must remain transparent. Consequently, the VDS stated it “vehemently opposes” any attempt to suppress critical sports journalism.
Outrage from ARD and Broadcasters
ARD sports coordinator Axel Balkausky reacted with visible anger to the exclusion. He labeled the move a “flagrant violation” of independent reporting principles. Furthermore, he noted that such an occurrence is rare in German sports.
Balkausky raised serious questions about the DESG’s financial backers:
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How does the federal government view this exclusion?
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Should institutions continue to finance an association that avoids scrutiny?
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What does this mean for future independent reporting in skating?
DESG President Defends the Ban
In contrast, DESG president Matthias Grosse remained defiant during the Berlin meeting. He dismissed the investigative report as a “smear campaign.” He further characterized the media’s focus as a “hate campaign” directed at himself and his partner, five-time Olympic champion Claudia Pechstein.
“What has happened is a disgrace,” Grosse remarked. He insisted the association was under unfair attack, despite the poor performance of German skaters at the recent Winter Games. Notably, Germany failed to secure a single medal in these disciplines.
Internal Criticism and Athlete Frustration
The ban follows sharp criticism from within the skating community. Olympic competitor Fridtjof Petzold recently accused the DESG of being unprofessional. He suggested that the organization suffers from favoritism.
“Quite a lot of families, I would say, simply bring their own people in,” Petzold told reporters. These internal allegations of nepotism and mismanagement continue to haunt the association as it faces mounting pressure from both athletes and the press.
