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LAUSANNE, Switzerland () -- A Swiss court found two British journalists guilty of libelling the International Olympic Committee and its president Juan Antonio Samaranch and sentenced them to symbolic five-day suspended jail terms.
Vyv Simson and Andrew Jennings, authors of the 1992 book "The Lords of the Rings," were not in court Thursday to hear the verdict after refusing even to defend themselves against the charges of criminal libel and defamation.
The book, published in 13 languages and made into a television documentary, portrayed Samaranch as an autocratic leader of a corrupt IOC. It also accused him of actively supporting Spanish dictator Francisco Franco and his repressive regime. It was the first time in its 100-year history that the IOC had taken legal action against any of its critics, and IOC officials said the court's ruling had vindicated their decision to do so.
Journalists Found Guilty
10 December 1994
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