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The German Skating Federation (DESG) has removed Olympic speed skater Fridtjof Petzold from the national team following his public criticism of the federation’s management and support for athletes.
Sportnieuws.nl, a Dutch sports news outlet, reported on the ongoing issues within the German skating federation including the dismissal of Petzold.
Recent reports from German media have highlighted significant problems within the Deutsche Eisschnelllauf- und Shorttrack-Gemeinschaft (DESG). Allegations include a culture of fear among athletes, financial irregularities such as coverage of team clothing and travel costs by athletes themselves, and gaps in the federation’s budget. These reports have raised concerns about the internal functioning of the organization.
Fridtjof Petzold, who competed at the Winter Olympics in Milan—finishing 19th in the 5000 meters, reaching the semifinals in the mass start, and participating in the team pursuit event where Germany placed seventh—has been among the athletes voicing concerns. Petzold criticized the federation for its structural problems and insufficient support for competitors during the Olympic Games. Following his comments, the DESG decided to remove him from the national team, disallowing his participation in upcoming competitions including the World Allround Championships scheduled to be held in Thialf.
DESG chairman Mathias Große defended the decision in an interview with Süddeutsche Zeitung. He described Petzold as an athlete who fails to perform and violates regulations by making public criticisms rather than addressing issues internally. Große, who is also the partner of five-time Olympic champion Claudia Pechstein, has taken a firm stance against media coverage that exposes alleged misconduct within the federation. This firm response included barring journalists Hajo Seppelt and Jörg Mebus from press conferences following their investigative report and threatening legal action against them.
The professional athletes’ association Athleten Deutschland expressed support for Petzold, emphasizing the importance of allowing athletes to voice criticisms of their governing bodies without fear of reprisal. The association highlighted issues with internal complaint processes, which may suffer from conflicts of interest, making it difficult for athletes to address grievances effectively within the federation.
