low graphics version | feedback | help
| Front Page World |
| UK |
|
Northern Ireland Scotland Wales |
| UK Politics Business Sci/Tech Health Education Sport Entertainment Talking Point In Depth Audio/Video |
Fatima joke proves costly
In trouble: Gary Lineker, Rory McGrath, Nick Hancock and David Gower |
Former Olympic athlete Fatima Whitbread has accepted a public apology and undisclosed libel damages over "tasteless and offensive" comments made on the BBC comedy quiz They Think It's All Over.
Two panellists on the popular BBC One show, brodcast on 13 May and repeated five days later, suggested that during her career Ms Whitbread had unnaturally high levels of testosterone in her blood.
Javelin star: Fatima Whitbread at the 1988 Seoul Olympics |
He said the statement was completely false and "tended to suggest that during her career, Ms Whitbread had unnaturally high levels of testosterone in her blood".
Mr Atkins added: "It is accepted that the comments were intended to be light-hearted.
"However, the statements complained of have caused a great deal of upset, distress and embarrassment to the claimant and her family.
"The claimant is still very much involved in British athletics to this day and is responsible for coaching many young athletes."
Mr Atkins said: "Having regard to the offensive nature of the comments broadcast, the claimant was not prepared to allow these allegations to stand uncorrected."
BBC solicitor Philip Lawrence told the judge: "The BBC very much regrets any hurt and distress caused to Fatima Whitbread by its broadcast and is pleased to take this opportunity to apologise to her and to withdraw any such allegations unreservedly."
Mr Atkins said: "The parties have agreed to an amicable settlement of this libel action on the basis that the defendant agrees not to re-publish the offending allegations and to pay suitable damages to Fatima Whitbread as well as the legal costs she has incurred.
"In the light of this, my client has achieved the purposes for which she commenced these proceedings and is now happy to put this matter behind her."
Brought up in children's homes until she was 14, Fatima Whitbead is married to sports promoter Andy Norman.
|
Search BBC News Online |
|
|
 Advanced search options | |
| |
 | |
 | |
| |
 | BBC RADIO NEWS |
| |
| |
 | BBC ONE TV NEWS |
| |
| |
| WORLD NEWS SUMMARY |
| |
| |
| |
| |
 | PROGRAMMES GUIDE |
|
|
See also: |
|
 |
|
 |
02 Nov 99 | UK |
|
Celebrating the "best of British" |
| |
|
|
Internet links: |
|
|
|
|
|
British Athletics |
| |
|
|
International Amateur Athletic Fedeeration |
| |
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites |
|
Links to other UK stories are at the foot of the page.
E-mail this story to a friend
~RS~a~RS~international~RS~q~RS~~RS~z~RS~16~RS~)