A ProPublica and BBC project investigating the use of drugs in track and field won the British Journalism Award on Tuesday in the sports journalism category. Administered by the journalism trade magazine Press Gazette, the British Journalism Awards recognize the best in public interest journalism for a U.K. audience.
The joint investigation, which aired in June on the BBC program Panorama in an episode entitled “Catch Me If You Can” (in addition to an online piece by ProPublica reporter David Epstein), focused on accusations that famed track coach Alberto Salazar experimented with testosterone and pressured athletes to use prescription medications to enhance performance. With testimony from top runners and others who worked with Salazar at the prestigious Nike Oregon Project, the story prompted other former members of the Oregon Project to contact ProPublica with allegations that Salazar had violated anti-doping rules and spurred a worldwide discussion.
