United States District Court Dismisses Katinka Hosszu Defamation Action

Hours before Katinka Hosszu raced to a fourth medal, a silver in the 200m backstroke, for Hungary at the Rio Aquatics Centre yesterday, the United States District Court for the District of Arizona dismissed a defamation action filed by the swimmer against Swimming World’s parent company, Sports Publications Inc, and the writer Casey Barrett.

In May last year, the niche website ran a story under the headline “Is It Fair To Suspect That Katinka Hosszu’s Performances Are Being Aided?” 

The court’s judgement has been made public today.

Hosszu’s suit, filed in November 2015, alleged commentaries published by SPI and Barrett accused her of using performance enhancing drugs. In its order, the court found that the May 2015 commentary that was the focus of her complaint was a non-actionable opinion protected by the First Amendment. Hosszu is free to appeal.

The Order The Judgment

Hosszu, working with her coach and husband Shane Tusup, has built a unique profile in swimming between the ages of 24 and 27, her progress in every event, every distance, every stroke like nothing else seen among elite women swimmers. She has been tested regularly and has no adverse finding to her name.

In Rio, Hosszu has raced to three gold medals, one world record, in the 400m medley, and a silver at her fourth Games, …

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