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A KICK ON PILLS

Painkillers in Football

Painkillers in Football

The Story  •  The Documentary  •  Survey Results  •  Send a Tip
The Story  •  The Documentary  •  Survey Results  •  Send a Tip            

Collapsing on the pitch, spitting blood after a match, multiple kidney transplants,  and facing a lifetime of irreversible health consequences: Football has a problem with painkillers, but only few are brave enough to speak out. In a year-long investigation, we talked with over 150 people, including players, doctors and experts, who reveal the true nature of painkiller abuse in professional football. Our reporting sheds light on how the pressure to perform influences abuse even in Germany’s amateur football leagues: Over 1,100 survey participants openly shared the damages that they inflicted on themselves for the sake of sport. The #KICKONPILLS investigation exposes a system that sidelines health for wealth. A cross-border investigation by CORRECTIV and ARD Doping Editorial Team in cooperation with La Stampa, IRPI and France 2.

THE STORY

Blood, Sweat, and Pills: Painkiller Abuse in Football

They wanted to play, no matter the cost. They were pushed beyond their limits. Then, with little information, they were left alone to pay lifelong health consequences. This is the story of how the football industry remained idle while players became addicted to painkillers.

DOCUMENTARY

Doping Top Secret:
»Pass That Pill!«

Painkillers in Football - Doping in Disguise?

WATCH THE DOCUMENTARY (44 MIN.)

A film from the ARD Doping Editorial Team in cooperation with CORRECTIV. Produced by EyeOpening.Media GmbH for rbb

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Amateur Football Survey Results

1,142 German amateur players participated in a survey about painkillers in amateur football. Read the analysis here

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Do you have tips or suggestions about the abuse of painkillers or doping in football? Please contact our reporters Jonathan Sachse and Arne Steinberg.

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CORRECTIV has spent over a year investigating painkiller abuse in football. We also carried out a large-scale survey and interviewed over 150 people. We are an independent and award-winning German non-profit investigative newsroom. Our reporters develop long term investigations about wrongdoings in society, delving into topics like the CumEx tax fraud scheme or illegal fundraising by German political parties. CORRECTIV’s work is made possible by donations from citizens. Support our work to expose systemic abuse, disinformation and corruption. Learn more about CORRECTIV here.

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A Project by CORRECTIV – Recherchen für die Gesellschaft

Text and Investigation CORRECTIV: Jonathan Sachse, Arne Steinberg EyeOpening.Media/ ARD Doping Editorial Team: Hajo Seppelt, Wigbert Löer, Jörg Mebus, Josef Opfermann, Patricia Corniciuc, Shea Westhoff, Sebastian Krause, Matthias Liebing, Wolfgang Bausch, Lukas Witte, Ulf Ullrich Editorial CORRECTIV: Olaya Argüeso Pérez, Justus von Daniels, Michel Penke, Frederik Richter International Partner: Giulio Rubino (CORRECTIV, La Stampa), Thierry Vildary (France 2) Design&Production: Benjamin Schubert, Belén Ríos Falcón Photos: Ivo Mayr Social Media: Luise Lange, Valentin Zick, Katharina Späth Contributions: Bianca Hoffmann, Max Donheiser, Marius Wolf, Anne Armbrecht, Lilly Schlagnitweit Support CrowdNewsroom Survey Results: Prof. Dr. Joachim Kunert und Prof. Dr. Andreas Groll (beide TU Dortmund), Prof. Dr. Gerd Glaeske (Universität Bremen)

Get in touch: info@correctiv.org

Published June 9th, 2020