The German Ice Skating and Short Track Association (DESG) is locked in a bitter dispute with public broadcaster ARD, excluding journalists Hajo Seppelt and Jörg Mebus from a press conference and launching legal action against the network. The escalating conflict centers on allegations of mismanagement within the DESG, prompting a strong defense from the association’s president.
Anyone who criticizes him or the German Ice Skating and Short Track Association should expect a lawsuit and to be banned, according to DESG President Matthias Große. Speaking at a press conference, Große stated, “Anyone who leads my association to the slaughterhouse will only meet me in court.”
Große, who is the partner of five-time Olympic speed skating champion Claudia Pechstein, was responding to a report by ARD reporters Hajo Seppelt and Jörg Mebus regarding alleged issues within the association in early February. He has initiated legal proceedings against the broadcaster for defamation, with his lawyers sending letters to WDR (part of ARD), the production company, and the two reporters.
Germany’s speed skating team has failed to medal at the Winter Games in Italy, as well as in previous competitions in Sochi (2014), Pyeongchang (2018), and Beijing (2022). “ARD and Hajo Seppelt crashed our Olympic Games. He almost drove Claudia Pechstein to suicide,” Große claimed. Both reporters were barred from attending the press conference. Seppelt spent 16 years covering the case of Claudia Pechstein, who fought against a doping suspension she believed was unjust.
ARD Sports Coordinator Axel Balkausky responded to the reporters’ exclusion, stating, “This is a unique event that also raises questions about the attitude of the federal government and other institutions that fund the DESG.”
The German Olympic Sports Confederation (DOSB) also issued a strong statement: “We expect our legally independent and autonomous member organizations to respect press freedom in the same way that we do.” During the press conference, Große and Treasurer Clarissa Forster refuted several of the allegations made in the report.
Große Defends Against Five Allegations
Allegation 1: A climate of fear prevails. Große: “A climate of fear is not demanding performance, but when a woman is arrested in Iran for not wearing a headscarf or when a child goes to the playground in Kyiv and a Russian drone arrives.”
Allegation 2: Athletes have to pay for team clothing. Große: “After one year, the athletes must return their clothing. We are not legally allowed to give it to them. However, they have the option to buy it for 50 euros plus VAT.”
Allegation 3: Athletes must pay travel costs up to 2000 euros. Große: “No athlete who qualified had to pay a cent for any competition. But: if an athlete wants to go to a competition five days early, but the sponsor only pays for three days, the deficit for those two days must be paid. The athletes do this in consultation with us. If an athlete wants to go to a competition for which he is not qualified, but can qualify for the World Championships, European Championships or Olympics there, he does not have to pay anything.”
Head of Elite Sports Frank Dittrich added: “For example, eight days before the start of the competition were covered, but athletes wanted ten days. We extended it for 500.99 euros. The athletes had to pay for that.” Rad-Koffer (bike transport) are no longer covered by funding in recent years, as speed skaters train extensively on bicycles. “For these 150 euros for transport on the plane, the athletes in Erfurt organized the calendar,” Große said.
Allegation 4: Questionable liquidity. Treasurer Clarissa Forster: “In 2019, the association was 515,000 euros in the red. In 2024, it was 145,000 euros in the black, so it made a profit of 660,000 euros in five years. The DESG was never insolvent under Mr. Große’s leadership. The sponsor has approved everything. We have to demonstrate our books, we have, and People can. We have made everything transparent.”
Allegation 5: Prize money has not been paid out for years. Große: “We even paid out some funds before receiving the ISU prize money. No athlete had to wait 730 days, as claimed. The average payout in Germany from the tax office is six to 26 weeks.” According to documents, the maximum time between receipt of funds and payout at the DESG was 476 days (2023), but usually up to 185 days.
