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Roadcycling.com invited me to post the full version of a recent letter I sent to Velo News in regards to their covering of Tyler's case. As you can see from the letter, my bias is obvious but my letter is not only because I believe in Tyler but because I am dismayed at the lack of integrity on the behalf of Velo News for their handling of Tyler's case over the last 18 months. My letter is as follows:
Dear Mr. Pelkey and staff at VeloNews
Your recent article regarding Tyler Hamilton asked if readers agreed with the CAS decision. Although, I am no longer a Velo News reader I do not agree with the CAS decision in Tyler’s case. But that is to be expected, as I openly admit my bias towards Tyler as I have known him for many years and more importantly I run the Tyler Hamilton Foundation. And where there certainly have been a few people that we know that had the philosophy that “everyone in the peloton” does it, I am not one of them. I have never wavered and never will waiver in my belief in Tyler Hamilton. However, my belief in media is another story.
I encourage everyone to read the CAS decision and to read the USADA decision, with Chris Campbell’s dissenting opinion. I also encourage everyone to read the points posted on Tyler’s web site. I encourage everyone to closely pay attention to the story of the U.S. slider Zach Lund in Torino whose hopes and dreams were destroyed despite his efforts to be forthcoming with USADA. There is clear evidence that the process did not work for Zach either. I encourage everyone to read about Kicker Vencil and Scott Moniger. The system didn’t work for them. I encourage everyone to spend some time doing their own research because it is clear that Velo News, who touts themselves as “The Journal of Competitive Cycling” will continue to show bias but lack investigative information. And again, I am extremely biased but I am not the media.
It is the responsibility of journalism to report the information and with that comes both sides with no opinions, letting the reader make their own determination. Opinions should be left in the editorial section, as then the reader realizes this is just one person’s opinion. Velo News has consistently showed bias in the reporting of Tyler’s situation. And as individuals you have a right to your opinion but as media you have an obligation to the public to be as accurate and unbiased as possible. Show the facts from both sides without opinion.
One of the leaders in journalistic integrity is Joseph Pulitzer. He believed strongly that journalism was a public service, with a goal to be "truly democratic, dedicated to the cause of the people rather than to that of the purse potentatates." He started the Columbia School of Journalism because he believed there should be stronger professional ethics and academic rigor to the profession. But, it is rare that we see that in any media these days. (The above paragraph was removed by Velo News)
And Mr. Pelkey, you have shown the greatest bias against Tyler adding your editorial comments at what I would deem inappropriate times where facts would have been more interesting to the reader. As an apparent journalist, I am curious as to if you ever wanted to break a story like Woodward and Bernstein? Where you actually dug up the facts that broke the story? Or are you content to simply regurgitate the AP reports and slide in your opinions?
And wouldn’t the magazine sell more if you actually had information no one else has reported? Would it have been interesting to the reader to know that Maidie Oliveau has a history with Dick Pound? It is fact that Maidie Oliveau, one of the three CAS board members in Tyler's case, was Associate Vice President with the Los Angeles Olympic Organizing Committee. She managed the Corporate Relations Department which handled all of the 1984 Olympics' sponsors, suppliers and licensees. In 1984, Dick Pound was responsible for delivering NBC as the major TV sponsor for the Olympics, key marketing engine for Maidie Oliveau's Corporate Relations Department. Those are facts and the next step would be to research whether Maidie has demonstrated bias towards WADA in other CAS decisions where she served as an arbitrator. How many cases has she sat on as arbitrator and how does she usually vote? I do not have the answers to those questions but I will find out, because I believe it is not only pertinent but I believe it is interesting information. When you judge a Supreme Court ruling you look at the history of each justice and their pattern of voting. Who are the arbitrators and what is their pattern of voting? Again, I don’t currently have those answers but it is certainly interesting that you don’t either. (The above paragraph was removed by VeloNews)
And if Velo News is the “journal of competitive cycling” why are you not interested in the possibility that there just might be a problem with the anti-doping process as Tyler believes? It is not worth your time to dig deeper to help preserve the sport? Preserving the sport would certainly assist in your economic success for all of Inside Communications periodicals. WADA affects all of them. You may never believe Tyler but maybe you can play a role in ensuring that competitive cycling is clean – both the athletes and the organizations? Why doesn’t Velo News follow the money? Will you discover conflicts of interest? What questions are you asking or not asking for that matter? Or does it not matter to you? And does it not matter to the readers?
If the readers expect and demand integrity from athletes, then they should demand the same from the media. The same set of standards should be met.
I believe in Tyler and I believe he will see victory again – both on and off the bike. And it will be a great honor to be standing by him for each moment. Unfortunately, I do not believe in the journalistic integrity of Velo News. Cyclists across the world deserved better than you gave them.
Deirdre Moynihan Executive Director, Tyler Hamilton Foundation Boulder, CO
I'm afraid Tyler's just like all the rest. You are driven to be the best. You gotta have a little something to give yourself the edge. You justify with the thought "everyone else is too". You hope you don't get caught. When you get caught you deny. It's too bad, but that's the way it seems to be.
Posts: 2 | Location: oregon | Registered: 19 February 2006
I'm afraid Tyler's just like all the rest. You are driven to be the best. You gotta have a little something to give yourself the edge. You justify with the thought "everyone else is too". You hope you don't get caught. When you get caught you deny. It's too bad, but that's the way it seems to be.
