|
1 3 - 0 6 - 2 0 0 5
CSC said to be keeping dossiers on journalists
Velo News
June 11, 2005
Team CSC, run by former Tour de France winner Bjarne Riis, has come under the spotlight at the Dauphiné Libéré after it was alleged that team officials have created secret files on journalists.
An official with the Danish outfit has been spotted on several occasions taking pictures of journalists in the press room, allegedly to show CSC riders whom they should not speak with.
The revelations have angered Gilles Le Roc'h, the president of the international cycling journalists' association (AIJC), who has already officially complained to UCI president Hein Verbruggen.
"Secret files have been created by the CSC team, complete with photos, so they can show their riders and team members which journalists they should avoid talking to," said Le Roc'h.
"That way the team knows whether they are talking to someone who is sympathetic to the team or to a journalist who is going to ask awkward quetions about doping and other things they don't want to answer.
"What's more, creating files on someone in a professional capacity in France is illegal. It's absolutely unacceptable, above all from someone (Riis) who can't give lessons to anyone."
Verbruggen, who will soon quit his post as president of the UCI, has already been informed and said he would "act" upon the revelations.
A team spokesman rejected the charges.
"We totally and unconditionally reject the accusations," Brian Nygaard, the team's press spokesman, told the Danish national press agency.
"It's completely false and if people know us they know it's also not the way we operate."
Nevertheless, the charges have rocked the journalists covering the Dauphiné Libéré. Race organizer Thierry Cazeneuve, who is also the president of the National League of Cycling Professionals (LNCP) - and a journalist with the Dauphiné Libéré newspaper - said they would be acting on the news.
"It's a strange way to go about things, and is something we have to get to the bottom of," said Cazeneuve. "Obviously I'm shocked. As a journalist, I know we can't let this kind of behavior continue."
Marc Madiot, manager of the Française des Jeux team, added: "I know that Bjarne Riis is someone who is well organized, but I'm not sure it's the best way to promote the image of his team, or his employer."
[Link]
CSC furious over 'secret file' allegations
Cyclingpost.com
Sunday, June 12 05
COPENHAGEN, Jun 12 (CP) - The Danish Team CSC has reacted to allegations concerning a 'secret file' with information on domestic and international journalists, calling the accusations insulting and completely false.
Recently, rumours had that the Danish formation had been maintaining a database of journalists, used for the riders to know who to talk to, and more importantly, who not to talk to.
In an official press statement, CSC said to be "very chocked to hear the accusations made by a French journalist, about the way Team CSC interacts with the press".
"These are very serious and insulting claims and they are all completely false. We do not have, nor do we intend to make such a file in the future, and furthermore we do not agree with the keeping of such files on journalists."
"We have contacted the journalist and have demanded a complete retraction of these accusations."
[Link]
|
[Definitie:] "An ergogenic aid is any substance or phenomenon that enhances performance."
(Wilmore and Costill) 
