The Daily Telegraph (Australia) recently published a sensationalistic anti-steroid article that referenced the deceased IFBB professional bodybuilder Luke Wood. Health reporter Rose Brennan attempted to use Wood’s death as a useful weapon to demonize steroids in an article titled “Gym junkies dupe docs with sex life struggles” published on October 25, 2016. Specifically, Brennan falsely claimed that anabolic steroids were the official cause of death.
Brennan was wrong. Contrary to Brennan’s unsubstantiated assertions, Deputy State Coroner Magistrate Sharon Freund carefully considered Wood’s possible history of steroid use and did not identify anabolic steroids as the cause of Wood’s tragic death in the official coroner’s inquest.
In her haste to promote the evils of steroids, Brennan also failed to consider the impact such inaccurate reporting would have on the family of Luke Wood. In a Facebook post published on Luke Wood’s official memorial page, Scott Wood criticized Brennan for the distress and damage caused by the “despicable article” about his brother.
“The fact she has not bothered to conduct any research into her story and not considered the damage she directly and indirectly causes Luke’s family, loved ones and supporters of the fitness industry. What she did was unethical and unprofessional as a journalist. It is easy for lounge chair experts to cast negative assertions but it is hard to seek the truth when ‘untruths sell newspapers’. Luke’s death was NOT as a result of what Rose Brennan incorrectly reported.”
Scott provided a link to the Findings of the “Inquest into the death [of] Luke Wood” on the website of the State Coroner’s Court of New South Wales. The coroner identified “an intraperitoneal haemorrhage from an anastomotic leak from a transplanted renal artery” as the proximate cause of death.
Furthermore, the coroner’s report made it clear that Luke Wood’s use of steroids as a professional bodybuilder and the musculature consistent with such use was carefully considered as part of the inquest into his death.
“I think it prudent to comment, so far as it is relevant, on Luke’s use of steroids. Luke was a professional body builder who trained intensively and abided by a strict diet however, his extreme musculature was consistent with the use of steroids. Luke did admit to the use of steroids to at least some of his treating medical practitioners…
“As stated by Counsel Assisting at the outset, this inquest was not about the use and abuse of steroids. However, during the investigation undertaken in preparation for the inquest, some of the independent medical experts consulted by the Court were asked whether steroid use and Luke’s extreme musculature were relevant factors in relation to his care and treatment. Expert opinion received for this inquest revealed inter alia that such use would not have impacted on Luke’s suitability for the kidney transplant surgery. There was also evidence before me that high protein diets and anabolic steroid use are known risk factors for developing chronic renal failure. I also note that Luke had focal and segmental glomerulosclerosis (“FSGS”) and that his high protein diet and hypertension would have accelerated his progression toward end stage renal failure.”
In response to the outrage by the friends and family of Luke Wood, The Daily Telegraph issued a formal attraction and apology for the inaccurate reporting.
“A previous version of this article made reference to bodybuilder Luke Wood, stating that a coronial inquest found that steroid use contributed to his death in 2011. The Daily Telegraph accepts that this was incorrect and apologises to Mr Wood’s family.”
The apology may be too little and too late for the Wood family. The damage of such irresponsible journalism was already done and can not be so easily repaired.
“Inaccurate reporting and allegations create stereotype and innuendo for individuals, families and groups of people,” Scott wrote of Brennan’s article. “It has the extreme potential to cause both professional and personal damage which can not be undone. I still struggle without him each day and what happened when he was taken from us, but stories like yesterday just reignite and escalate the grieving process for his family, mates and [Luke’s widow] Nora.