Russian court rules that Hajo Seppelt/ARD documentary was based on inaccurate info - says they must pay $42 fine

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  • cofounder

    rojo

    Member since 07/09/2002.

    21,338 posts. Last post 6 hours ago.
    8 years ago 12/16/2015 4:24pm EST
    http://www.theguardian.com/sport/2015/dec/16/ard-fined-moscow-court-russia-doping-allegations

    Reuters wrote:

    A Moscow court on Wednesday ruled that a German TV documentary which alleged widespread doping among Russian athletes was based on inaccurate information and ordered ARD, the broadcaster behind the film, to pay a small fine.....

    It ordered ARD, the film’s producer, Hajo Seppelt, and Stepanova and her husband to pay fines of 3,000 roubles each, the Interfax news agency reported. ARD declined immediate comment.

    “Following the court’s decision, ARD do not have to issue a retraction, as they are from Germany and the court process was in Russia,” Valentin Balakhnichev, the former president of the VFLA, told Reuters in a phone interview.

    “However, Russian law can now let us say that all the information in this film is a lie. This is a big step forward in defending our interests and our rights.”

    He said the ruling could help Russian athletes be reinstated.

    A few thoughts.

    1) This is a complete joke. 3000 Russian rubles is basically a symbolic fine as that's only $42.68 (£28.46). $42?? Really? Does anyone have the address for ARD? I'm serious. Please email it to us at letsrun@letsrun as LetsRun.com wants to proudly send Hajo and them $42 to cover the fine.

    2) No this doesn't show it's clearly based on "a lie". Dick Pound's WADA report basically validated all of the Seppelt reporting.

  • bobalob

    Anonymous Poster

    8 years ago 12/16/2015 4:49pm EST
    re: rojo

    love that a RUSSIAN court in MOSCOW rules AGAINST the ARD who exposed RUSSIAN athletes. Fox in a henhouse!

  • registered

    captainrobbo

    Member since 11/23/2009.

    509 posts. Last post 3 months ago.
    8 years ago 12/16/2015 5:01pm EST
    re: rojo

    rojo wrote:

    1) This is a complete joke. 3000 Russian rubles is basically a symbolic fine as that's only $42.68 (£28.46). $42?? Really? Does anyone have the address for ARD? I'm serious. Please email it to us at letsrun@letsrun as LetsRun.com wants to proudly send Hajo and them $42 to cover the fine.

    Wouldn't that give some kind of greater weight and international recognition to the court ruling than it deserves?

    It would be FAR better for the community to underwrite the Stepanovs' forthcoming defence costs - or lobby the IAAF and WADA to do so.

  • cofounder

    rojo

    Member since 07/09/2002.

    21,338 posts. Last post 6 hours ago.
    8 years ago 12/17/2015 5:09pm EST
    re: captainrobbo

    Seppelt has responded to the fine today to Athletics Illustrated.http://athleticsillustrated.com/editorial/hajo-seppelt-on-russian-fine-moscow-based-court-viewed-nothing/

    [BSeppelt said

    “The WADA Independent Commission had all the evidence and viewed all original audios and videos which the Stepanovs had recorded. The Moscow based court viewed nothing. It was interesting to learn, that a court in Russia can take a decision based on complete ignorance of the facts...."

    “Since more than a year I can see how the vast majority of the Russian media – particularly the ones who are state run – are misleading the Russian public and creating weird conspiracy theories. It is a shame for journalism. They are the only ones in the world, who ignore almost all facts and prefer to call the courageous whistleblowers ‘traitors’, shared Seppelt. “The so-called fourth estate in a society should be the media. In Russia they have almost lost all critical power. With this court decision we can see, by an alarming degree the third estate, the judiciary, has lost its independence.”

  • Blah Blah Blah Blah

    Anonymous Poster

    8 years ago 12/17/2015 5:44pm EST
    re: rojo

    While there is reason to believe the Russian court might be biased. The WADA isn't an impartial unbiased commission either.

  • cofounder

    rojo

    Member since 07/09/2002.

    21,338 posts. Last post 6 hours ago.
    8 years ago 12/18/2015 10:15am EST
    re: Blah Blah Blah Blah

    Blah Blah Blah Blah wrote:

    While there is reason to believe the Russian court might be biased. The WADA isn't an impartial unbiased commission either.

    Look. This is pretty clear. Unless you believe the videos Seppelt were faked, then this is a black and white case.

  • Only the McLaren knows

    Anonymous Poster

    6 years ago 07/31/2017 4:59pm EDT
    re: rojo
    It ordered ARD, the film’s producer, Hajo Seppelt, and Stepanova and her husband to pay fines of 3,000 roubles each, the Interfax news agency reported. ARD declined immediate comment.

    1) This is a complete joke. 3000 Russian rubles is basically a symbolic fine as that's only $42.68 (£28.46). $42?? Really? Does anyone have the address for ARD? I'm serious. Please email it to us at letsrun@letsrun as LetsRun.com wants to proudly send Hajo and them $42 to cover the fine.

    Why do you only pay for the journalist? Is it because Stepanova and her husband are convicted dopers, who merged with Western interests in their fallout attempt?

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