WADA is castrating freedom of the press
The World Anti-Doping Agency continues its war against a free press. For the WADA symposium in Lausanne next week, strict limits are being set for the (few) journalists. Among other things, social media posts that displease the WADA saints will be punished with the withdrawal of accreditation.
For the few journalists who seriously investigate the Olympic family, it has never been easy: for decades, there have been many threats – legal, physical, material – by officials and institutions, from FIFA, IOC, World Aquatics, OCA and many other organisations and federations. Journalistic work have been consistently restricted. Investigative journalists have been spied on, locked out, defamed, sued – the whole gamut.
Working conditions are getting worse and worse. This is also ensured by hosts of despicable spin doctors and propagandists, who are hired by the sports monopolists and event organisers for sometimes princely sums. The all-encompassing fight against freedom of the press costs the Olympic family tens of millions of dollars every year.
Written questions remain unanswered; investigative reporters are thoroughly screwed, lied to and cheated; they are marginalised, controlled, regulated, threatened and spied on (I am deliberately writing this for the second time because it is more important than ever to be reminded of it regularly). Media relations in many international (but also national) sports organisations are coordinated by propaganda servants who could also make a great career in North Korea, Russia, China or with Donald Trump.
Step by step, the delicate plant of democracy is being destroyed.
Jens Weinreich
Take the World Anti-Doping Agency (WADA), for example: its annual symposium is taking place in Lausanne next week. Journalists are being blackmailed with a dubious three-page document, without which no accreditation will be granted. Anyone who violates these sometimes abstruse Russian-Trump-North Korean ‘Terms and conditions and news access rules’ must expect the following:
„Failure to adhere may result in revocation of access to the 2025 Symposium and any future events organized by WADA.“
Extorting such a signature like this is a rare escalation. The alleged failure to comply with the abstruse rules can lead to the withdrawal of access to the 2025 symposium and the refusal of accreditation for future WADA events.
Of course, the definition of a ‘violation’ and ‘non-compliance’ with any rules that contradict freedom of the press is the sole responsibility of WADA. That goes without saying.
Journalists must expect to be banned for unpopular social media posts.
„Journalists should avoid making inappropriate or defamatory comments about the event, speakers, or other attendees.“
To put it bluntly, the only thing at stake is for the WADA saints to determine what is ‘inappropriate’ or ‘defamatory’.
The aim is nothing less than to prevent the establishment of the truth, journalism and public debate.
In this respect, those in charge at WADA are no different from despots like Vladimir Putin, Donald Trump, Xi Jinping or Kim Jong-Un.
Look at that:
