When your business is journalism and you’re reporting a story, it’s good to know that your reporters have solid information backing up what they’ve written. Sometimes that’s not the case, and usually what happens is a correction printed somewhere on the inside of a paper or magazine. Often in a place not nearly as prominent as the original story.
So what happens when you’re a broadcaster and you’ve just run a story about, say, a blood lab that’s said to be involved in blood doping, and you name athletes who are supposedly connected. Well, in the case of the German television broadcaster ARD, you apologize — on air and (if I understand Morgan’s comment correctly) to the athletes, themselves.
What’s this all about, you ask? Well, it turns out that ARD’s story about the Austrian blood lab Humanplasma (which I wrote about yesterday) was not based on “provable facts,” according to the first English-language story that I’ve seen on the subject, published at the International Herald Tribune’s web site.
But an ARD reporter from a biathlon World Cup event apologized Thursday during a live broadcast, saying the national broadcaster had acted unprofessionally by making allegations “without having provable facts.”
There’s a more complete story about the “mistake” on the Der Spiegel website. For those who understand German, click here. For a machine translation into English, click here.
“We apologize publicly for journalistic errors,” said ARD announcer Michael Antwerpes at the beginning of the Biathlon World Cup race in Anterselva.
Kudos to ARD for owning up to the mistake and issuing the apology. Their experience should serve as a cautionary tale to other news organizations to make sure they double-check their facts before running an explosive story. Taking a little bit of extra time could have saved ARD some embarrassment. And, more to the point, it could have prevented the unnecessary tarnishing of a number of athletes’ reputations. As one German sports official told Der Spiegel:
“The process should be a lesson to all of us, not [to jump to conclusions based on] unsubstantiated allegations with the reputation of athletes at risk,” said DOSB [the German Olympic Committee] Director General Michael Vesper.
Now that the story has broken out into the wild, it’s hard to undo the damage that may already have been done.
Which is not to say that this lab isn’t in the blood doping business. But before you tie anyone’s name to such accusations, you need to be sure you can prove it. The lab’s reputation, at least amongst the anti-doping community, is said to be a bit shady. Rasmus Damsgaard certainly has his suspicions about the lab, as the Danish newspaper Berlingske Tidende is reporting on their web site (link courtesy of regular reader Sara). Here’s a machine translation into English.
According to the story on BT’s website:
Unfortunately, it’s been difficult to get that last bit of evidence that would enable the police to conduct a search [of Humanplasma’s facilities]. It’s a company that has been under suspicion for a number of years, Damsgaard says to the newspaper.
The story goes on to say:
The Austrians [Humanplasma, that is] claim that they are not equipped to perform blood doping, but Rasmus Damsgaard has a hard time believing that.
When one has a company that works with blood plasma, which is more than 50 percent of the blood, one must have a very considerable knowledge about blood, says the Dane, who thinks that this is a story about a company that is more specialized than the Spanish doping doctor Eufemiano Fuentes, whose clinic was searched in 2006 because of suspicions about [the doctor’s involvement in the] doping of professional bike racers [and other athletes].
So, is Humanplasma involved in any nefarious activities or not? Well, they deny any connection to doping. As does every athlete who’s been named by ARD’s report. Why would WADA and other anti-doping researchers and officials suspect the lab? Hard to say, exactly, as they haven’t been very specific in their public statements. Even Rasmus Damsgaard, who has a good reputation in the anti-doping world, is not saying much specific.
Now that the story is out there, those who are suspicious about the lab need to lay out their reasons why. Do they have hard evidence, or just a hunch? Have any athletes actually told WADA or any anti-doping agencies about trips to the Austrian lab? There are a lot of questions surrounding this story that need to be answered before we can conclude that the story is true. And, unfortunately, ARD didn’t have enough proof in hand when they broadcast their report.
It could be that Humanplasma has helped athletes blood dope in the past. It could be that this is just a wild goose chase, and that Humanplasma’s denials are correct. There’s a danger in running stories before all your facts have been checked and verified. ARD’s story illustrates that all too clearly.
Rant,
That would appear to me to be a sweet piece you wrote – really nicely done. I for one will try to keep my thoughts optimistic. I think the layers are getting nicely separated, one can more easily see who the real players are, and “what” is the prize they are playing for. One can only hope.
Rant,
I do have one question. Why is Damsgaard “making” public pronouncements of this nature? This is no different then what old Dickie used to do? I am rather puzzled by this.
Morgan,
If Damsgaard is involveld seriously in a doping fight, I think he has talked with a lot of “doped” riders who are knowing where to find their service providers.
Maybe it has became more secret recently but if the lab is old enough in the “businness”, a lot of people know it!
Jean C,
I am not sure what you mean? Do you think I don’t believe Damsgaard? I cannot say what Damsgaard “thinks or knows” – Do you mean that Damsgaard “heard” from the “racers” who the people are to go to for doping drugs to race? As I say – I don’t understand your comment.
Morgan,
Although I don’t read them on a daily basis, several Danish newspapers have been following the Rasmussen case pretty closely, and reporting on the developments over time. Much of what they write never makes it beyond Denmark or Scandinavia, as best I can tell. But seeking Damsgaard’s comments would be pretty standard journalistic practice in a follow-up piece about ARD’s story and the allegations it contained.
I’d certainly like to know more about why Damsgaard is suspicious of the lab. Being as tapped in to the anti-doping community as he is, and seeing as he’s now running at least two testing programs for pro cycling teams, I assume he’s heard stories. Exactly what those stories are, however, I don’t know. Perhaps another media outlet in Denmark will ask him more questions on the subject. If so, we’ll see how the answers turn out. I’ll be checking over the next few days to see what develops.
Thanks Rant,
I was merely hoping that “public” innuendos would stop being an issue – if Damsgaard merely has a “suspicion” about the blood bank – with no proof – then wouldn’t it be little different than what D. Pound used to love to do – spread a rumor?
I mean I can accept that Damsgaard is an “actual-accredited” provider of testing – doesn’t that make his public statements pretty heavy duty? What on the if chance that he is merely repeating what is “popular belief.” Man I hope he isn’t That would simply be too dumb to bare.
Morgan,
Like you, I certainly hope he’s not just repeating the “conventional wisdom.” Oftentimes, conventional wisdom is just another form of groupthink. Damsgaard has his credibility to maintain, so I hope that in his public statements, he’s mindful of that.
Again, we find ourselves in a situation where it will be possible to prove the guilt of this lab (if indeed it is guilty) but it will be rather difficult if not impossible for the lab to prove it is innocent. No records on their premises of blood doping? Could they either never made them or destroyed them? Accused riders deny having used this lab? Must be the omerta. Even with the retraction, there has been damage done to this lab and to the athletes accused. And probably damage to Damsgaard’s reputation as well.
Maybe they are guilty, and if Damsgaard or anyone else has good evidence of this, it should be turned over to the proper authorities. But I am guessing that there is little more to go on at this point besides mere suspicion and hearsay. If D had something solid, I doubt he would be apologizing. He may have jumped the gun to get a “scoop” or maybe someone said they had something which didn’t pan out, like Dan Rather.
It’s one thing to be BSing with your buddies and make accusations about athletes, even for us here in the blogosphere to do that, but professional journalists should show more restraint.
Do they say “oops” in german, or is that an english word? In Germany do they say “shite” instead?
Nah – ja – ve say – “hop la!” – that is what we say to “children” vhen they make an “oops”. No – only English speakers who speak German say “shite” in Germany – many of us blow our covers because of it.
Rant,
From the machine translation of Damsgaard article – it sounds like a “public outing” of suspicions the “people in the know” about “humanplasma” – What it implies specifically is that – Yes – there is a suspicion about “humanplasma” but they have “no evidence.”
So I am reacting to “Damsgaard” – statement being a “public outing of suspicions” about “humanplasma” – this is EXACTLY WHAT D. Pound would do…make an “accusation – based on belief” rather then “hard facts.” With the “excuse” that the “accussed” is very clever at his game.
This is the same old nonsense.
I do believe Damsgaard have some inside information according to the bank.
I was also surprised that he spoke about it so openly without any solid proof, since he must know how important it is to have some proof to back up the allegiasions. So my take on the story is that he indeed knows someone who uses/used the bank or someone who works there. What a better place to seek for help to dope than a blood clinik? They sure know how it should be done…
Damsgaard said in the paper version that there are 4 clinics that are also suspected with doping athletes, did not say where they were.
CH just posted this at CF:
Italian sources say FC Barcelona, Real Madrid and Juventus Turin are involved in Puerto. Le Monde lost their court case against FC barcelona after the court of barcelona rejected tapes of the interviews with Fuentes and the hand written doping schedules as evidence! Lemonde says they will appeal and if necesarry go to the European court in Straßbourg. Italian sources also say that tennis players are involved in Puerto.
I wonder if OP will ever end? Torri’s last statements of football cleaning itself up was just the most stupid thing that came from him, if he goes after OP, he should go after EVERYONE named there, also the footballers(and tennis players and everyone else involved), not just the cyclists…
Sorry to bring OP into this, feel free to move this elsewhere.
Sara,
I am not questioning that Damsgaard – “has knowledge of” something going on “in Rabobank” and that he “knows” that “humanplasma” is providing “services” to pro athletes – If he is connected to what seems to be a group of WADA Labs that “share information amongst themselves” – but this puts us in a quandary. Because the public seems to have “hopes” that the Team testing will somehow “force” “clean – scientific testing” into cycling at least.
Damsgaard got creds – because CSC and every other media, proclaimed him as a tester with impeccable and reliable testing methods that “hold up” under cross inspection. Meaning that the “testing results” would be “open to the public” and in essence they were not “slanted” to “get the dopers” only.
What catches therefore my attention – is that Damsgaard then turns around and makes a “public” statement, inferring guilt on people and groups – without having “actual proof.” They even admit that they don’t have the “small bit” that gives them “actual hard proof.”
It would appear then that Damsgaard had to pay the price of becoming “accepted” as a valid WADA lab – by becoming one of the “inner circle?” There is no sound reason – why Damsgaard would want to sully his “squeaky-clean” – “independent lab” testing service image that has been spun hard in our faces. Damsgaard had to be paying dues to the “inner circle.” Something like:
“Yeah dude – we want you to be one of us – but maybe, you got to prove yourself…We want you to “kill something” as a sign you are sincerely desiring to be one of the “inner circle.” It’ll be simple – no sweat – Look, just “run” with this press release we all agree on – You’ve been party to the “facts” the LABS know about this bunch! We need to nail’em…You know they’re dopers, we know they’re dopers – see – no big problem…” -“hey, it’s only right – those bastards are dopers and everyone knows it!”
Sara – sorry for going on the flight of fancy – but you have to admit the behavior is strange, on the part of Damsgaard.
Sara,
The rumors of other athletes being connected with Puerto have been floating around for quite some time. It would be good for cycling if those other athletes and other sports were brought out into the open — assuming the rumors are true — as it would clearly show how doping goes well beyond professional cycling. And why should others escape the tarnish of OP (if they’re truly involved, not just random allegations) and not the cyclists?
Also, I’d certainly like to hear more of what Rasmus Damsgaard knows. It would be most enlightening, not only in terms of the Humanplasma blood bank in Austria, but in terms of doping in general.
Yeah – so would I – but isn’t this then opening up the situation to make public statements that are “alligations”? How would that be done without this being the result?
Depends on what he has to say, and whether he backs it up with and documentation or other proof. If he can back it up, it rises above mere allegations. But we’ll have to wait and see on that. I haven’t found anything he’s said in the last few days that goes beyond what was in the article Sara provided the link for. In fact, some of the other papers quote that article. He’d certainly be an interesting person to interview.