Time for Massin to man up on Kamloops story posted by Koops
Dieter Massin
I love a good mystery. But this one is getting tiresome. Nearly a month ago, Annette and Robert Koop posted a note on their German masters site about “Personenschutz für Massin” — a personal security detail at Kamloops worlds for Eurovets President Dieter Massin in the wake of the Val Barnwell suspension. Within hours, WMA President Stan Perkins and Kamloops organizers labeled the bodyguards report a lie. But the Koops stood by it, writing: “Ken, the story is true, that’s all.” The only person who could resolve this impasse is Dieter himself. So I sent him several queries, the latest being March 25. He never replied. I also sent notes to others, hoping they could nudge a response. No dice. So here’s my theory: Dieter made a boo-boo — planting the story to curry sympathy (or display his importance). But he miscalculated the blowback and is too ashamed and embarrassed to admit that he used the Koops.
Annette and Robert Koop watched events at Radiomaki track at Lahti worlds. (Photo by Ken Stone)
A dozen days ago, I sent this note to Dieter via email:
Greetings, Dieter
I have done more research on the Koops’ story about your having personal security at Kamloops.
Besides Stan Perkins and the LOC chair, at least a half-dozen additional sources (including some in Germany) say there is no truth to the Koops’ story about your needing security.
I cherish my friendship with Robert and Annette, whom I first met at 1999 Gateshead WAVA. And they are being made to look like fools as one after another credible source rejects their story. Robert assures me that the story is true but won’t give the source.
If you are the source, you owe them the support of a public affirmation of their veracity.
Do you value your own friendship with the Koops?
Then don’t let them hang by themselves with no evidence, no named sources, no explanation other than “trust us.”
If you are the source, please share the circumstances of this security detail.
How many security people?
How long were they with you?
Who paid for the security?
Did any specific incident prompt the need for security?
Did someone recommend that you have security?
What were the names of your protectors? How could I contact them?
Thank you very much for your attention and expeditious cooperation.
Otherwise, I will have to assume you are confirming the story by the absence of an explicit denial.
If it were me, I’d tell the truth and put the whole matter in the rearview mirror.
ken
No reply from Dieter. (Maybe he’s on vacation in Arizona?)
It’s an open secret that Dieter uses Annette’s Seite to float rumors, plant stories and promote his passions, including anti-doping efforts. But this bodyguard yarn is beyond the pale and sufficient reason for Stan to fire him as chairman of the WMA Anti-Doping and Medical Committee.
Moreover, the Koops are giving a supremely dubious story longer life. The post hints that Dieter felt threatened by Val Barnwell or perhaps members of Val’s Central Park Track Club. (I’ve written to CPTC but have received no comment.)
Essentially, the Koop posting makes Americans look like thugs. It suggests Dieter had reason to fear backlash against the Barnwell suspension.
Once and for all, Dieter should confirm or deny the Koops’ story. If he maintains radio silence, he deserves removal from all WMA offices and impeachment by the European Veterans Athletics Association, whose standards of sportsmanship and fair play are being violated.
16 Responses
I don’t know if Massin is too busy to answers to any email. Several months ago, I’ve send him a mail with the proposal to create a sort of Grand Prix masters in Europe, linking several already existings international master meetings (Bellinzona, Switzerland – Lubiana, Slovenja – Milano, Italy – and then Germany, France, Spain…): a ring of meetings with a final ranking.
No answer.
the proposal seemed to me interesting to grow the master movement in Europe!
Massin, if you are there, knock once!!!!!
That should be Val’s “former CPT” members. I have been told that Val resigned from CPT last year. He registered for Kamloops as “unattached”.
Let the mystery stay a mystery and let the Barnwell matter fade away.
Barnwell is taking his punishment. To ponder (or perpetuate) the rumor that Massin requested security because of a supposed threat by Barnwell risks some slander charges if the story is untrue.
Ach, Ken, Du und Dein “mystery”. Du bist doch ein flotter Journalist. Warum also machst Du Deinen Job nicht und spekulierst hier nur herum? Die Information trifft zu, also find die Quellen selbst heraus. Wir haben Dir geschrieben, dass wir unsere Quellen nicht mitteilen. Auch Dir nicht – trotz 13 Jahren Kooperation.
Noch zwei Dinge:
1. Wir moegen _die_ Amerikaner. Wir stellen Sie auch nicht als Strolche, Rowdies, Verbrecher, Gangster oder sonst was dar – was unser online-Lexikon mit “thugs” uebersetzt.
2. Wir lassen weder uns provozieren noch unsere kleine Webseite instrumentalisieren – weder von Dir noch von Dieter Massin.
Viele Gruesse nach Kalifornien aus dem deutschen Fruehling
Annette und Robert Koop
Robert needs to see a dentist !!! Too much grinding!
Rough translation of the Koops’ content:
Oh, Ken, you and your “mystery”. You’re a dashing journalist. So why do you do your job and not just speculate about here? The information is correct, that is, find the sources yourself. We have written to you that we not tell our sources. Not even you – despite 13 years of cooperation.
Two more things:
1st We like _die_ Americans. We shall not constitute as hoodlums, thugs, criminals, gangsters or something – which translates our online Encyclopedia as “thugs”.
2nd We can neither we nor our provoke exploit small website – neither you nor from Dieter Massin.
Many greetings to California from the German spring
Annette and Robert Koop
If the story is untrue, the next time the Koops are on American soil (maybe Sacramento 2011), Val can slap them with a defamation of character lawsuit.
The American courts will force them to reveal their sources then.
Better bring a lot of Travelers Cheques!
Welcome to the wonderful world of drug testing and all the fun and merriment that goes along with it.
The jurisdictional issues would have to be worked out, but Val Barnwell definitely does have a cause of action against the Koops if the story they printed about him threatening someone is untrue.
He would also have a case against Massin if Massin planted a false story. Most likely, both Massin and the Koops would be joined as defendants.
Val was guilty of drug use, but to say that he threatened someone with violence (if the story is untrue) is libelous.
To be fair: The Koops’ story doesn’t specify an explicit threat from Barnwell.
The post (translated) said:
“German competitors at the World Indoors made it known that WMA anti-doping czar Dieter Massin received temporary personal security (bodyguards) after the announcement of the positive test of Barnwell. Massin got the job after the Lahti world championships.”
But reading between the lines, a Barnwell threat is plausibly suggested. Hard case for a jury.
Ken,
Massin’s failure to answer your very reasonable questions suggests that someone has told him to shut up…that at least someone in the organizaton is smart enough to know that his comments may have legal ramifications.
This is what happens when amateurs handle something as serious as drug testing.
It may also be due to his not very good command of English (so I am told by someone who knows) – but regardless – chill out Ken – you are trying to read frog entrails here.
You appear to be making a rash assumption based upon not much of anything and a poor translation from German a language you apparently do not know. I was told by some one close to the drug testing – Val’s behavior was respectful. No one was threatening anyone.
Mary,
If, as you say, Val’s behavior was indeed respectful as witnessed by others, then all the more reason for the Koops/Massin to clear up the personal security/threat issue. Ken’s inquiry isn’t over-reactive.
Was there or was there not personal security issued for Massin? If so, why?
Dieter Massin was not competing in Kamloops.The Koops clearly stated that they were told by fellow German competitors that Mr. Massin received personal protection. Now, Ken wants Annette & Robert to state: “Kraut A & Kraut B told us that…” Next, Ken will demand from Kraut A & B that they attend the Berlitz School to learn proper English so that they can participate in his inquiry? And why should Dieter Massin answer Ken’s question? Whatever happened up north is something for the “dapper journalist” (Ken) to dig out, not for an official involved in an unpleasant drug suspension to tell. By the way, Rob D’Avellar is calling the United States Anti-Doping Agency amateurs. USDA handled the suspension, not Dieter Massin.
Kraut??? How about Jap and Gook next? then we can move on to the REALLY offensive stuff…
And no, I don’t care that Waltermann appears to be of German origin.
Even if the USDA handled the suspension, it doesn’t sound like the events surrounding the suspension were handled very well…if we have Mary saying there were witnesses that Val handled it politely and the Koops saying that a security force was needed.
Rumors, innuendoes, threats, security forces, secret sources, bad blogs, good blogs, law suits…all great things to look forward to when drug testing is implemented at US Nationals.
ob-la-di, ob-la-da, life goes on, bra
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