The New York Times reports that Ethiopian superstar athlete Haile Gebreselassie’s phone has been tapped and that he is facing blackmail, confirming an earlier story by Ethiopian Review. NYT’s source is Haile’s agent Jos Hermens. No doubt Woyanne propaganda chief Bereket Simon will force Haile to go on TV and deny that he has been targeted, or else face grave consequences. Read the full story below.
Haile Gebrselassie Won’t Quit Racing
By JERÉ LONGMAN | The New York Times
Haile Gebrselassie of Ethiopia, the distance-running star who stunningly announced his retirement after dropping out of the New York City Marathon on Nov. 7, said Monday that he had reconsidered and would continue racing.
“Running is in my blood, and I decided to continue competing,” Gebrselassie wrote on his Twitter account. “My announcement in New York was my first reaction after a disappointing race.”
Jos Hermens, Gebrselassie’s agent, said from Addis Ababa, the Ethiopian capital, that Gebrselassie had reacted emotionally after leaving the New York course at 16 miles of the 26.2-mile race. He also felt guilty for having dropped out of a half-marathon in New York earlier this year.
“He wasn’t thinking when he said he wanted to stop,” Hermens said. “He was too emotional.”
Hermens also provided new details about the injury that caused Gebrselassie to drop out of the race, describing it as more of a muscular problem than a knee problem, as New York City Marathon officials had reported.
Hermens also suggested that Gebrselassie’s emotional decision to retire might have stemmed in part from political pressure he was feeling in Ethiopia. His phone has been tapped by government officials and he has faced some sort of blackmail attempt, Hermens said of his client.
“There is a lot of pressure on him in Ethiopia,” Hermens said of Gebrselassie. “I don’t know all the details.”
Gebrselassie could not be reached by phone Monday, and it was impossible to confirm independently the accusations about phone-tapping and blackmail.
Ethiopia held national elections in May, and the government of Prime Minister Meles Zenawi was accused by opposition figures of intimidation, harassment and vote rigging.
The Ethiopian Review, an opposition online journal based in Washington, reported this month that the prime minister’s wife and her associates were attempting to force partnerships with Gebrselassie on a new hotel that he had built and on other real estate ventures.
The mayor of Addis Ababa, an ally of the prime minister and his wife, had also recently ordered the confiscation of land that had been leased to Gebrselassie, the journal reported, citing sources in Addis Ababa.
Officials at the Ethiopian embassy in Washington could not be reached for comment.
In one of the world’s poorest countries, Gebrselassie, who has made a lucrative career from running, has become one of the most visible and popular figures. He employs more than 600 people in various businesses and has built two schools. He has also spoken about the possibility of seeking political office once his running days are over.
Frustration over the injury and political tensions perhaps led Gebrselassie to overreact after dropping out of the New York marathon, Hermens said.
“All this pressure came out; he was emptying his heart,” Hermens said.
Once Gebrselassie returned home, many of his countrymen urged him to continue running as an inspiration to Ethiopia’s youth, Hermens said. Having set 27 world records and won 2 Olympic gold medals at 10,000 meters, Gebrselassie is widely considered the greatest distance runner ever. He holds the world record for the marathon: 2 hours 3 minutes 59 seconds.
“In Ethiopia, there were discussions on radio and TV, and people were saying he had to continue, that he was an important role model,” Hermens said. “He just needs time to fuel his battery again.”
Gebrselassie next plans to run the Tokyo Marathon in February and wants to compete in the 2012 Olympic marathon in London. Although his reputation is secure, he has yet to show that he can win a marathon against a deep field of elite competitors. His fastest times have come with pacesetters on flat courses in races that were time trials more than competitions.
About a month before the New York City Marathon, Gebrselassie felt some pain in the quadriceps near its attachment by tendon to the right kneecap, Hermens said. Massage seemed to cure the problem and Gebrselassie thought he was in tremendous condition for the race, Hermens said.
Six days before the marathon, though, Gebrselassie went for a final training run, apparently overexerted himself and again felt pain, Hermens said, adding, “That’s the problem with athletes, they always want to push more, more, more.”
The pain had ebbed, but it flared on a final run the day before the marathon, and Gebrselassie underwent a magnetic resonance imaging test and had fluid drained from the quadriceps, Hermens said. New York officials described the injury as tendinitis after Gebrselassie dropped out.
With tears in his eyes, Gebrselassie announced that he was retiring, saying he was tired of complaining.
“He was so disappointed, he just broke down mentally,” Hermens said.
18 thoughts on “Haile is facing blackmail – his agent tells New York Times”
It is really sad that this national (international) hero has end up to be a victim of Mrs. Rasputin and her mongoose concubine. This guy was said to go to the conference of all jackals in Adama last month and handing them his proclamation that he just cut their so-called 5-year plan to a 2-yr plan. He was seen to be jovial so uncalled for right on TV. In fact, it was said to be so an embarrassing scene. Well…He is learning what millions of others already knew. The gunpowder addicted goon and his nymphomaniac wife don’t take in friends. They take hostage!!! They will let him live a bleeding life. Profusely so!!!! And there is nothing he or his agent can do about it. Nothing!!!!!
That whore Azeb should leave Haile alone. What a greedy biatch!
Unbelievable the Woyane’s never get happy to see Ethiopian well. Meles is the number one enemy of Ethiopian.
Here we go again,when will weyane stop harassing Ethiopians? It is true weyane made Haile get involved on the Political leaders so called pardon. .Just a few weeks ago those tugs let go Birtukan, apparently they made sure Haile was brushed of with the garbage that was serounding it. What i’m advising Haile is to be with the good Ethiopian people,money goes money comes but you will give the struggle another level. Please Haile speak up you are the greatest of all times,you are famous already more than that goat Meles Seytanawi, the Crime Minister of Ethiopia.Haile you are a hero,but if you speak up everything you know,you will save millions of people and you will be a hero of HUMANITY.
I think meles is suffering from a little man syndrome, otherwise this high school drop out bitch would not have been creating such a havoc in one of a kind nation…
Only Haile knows the truth,so lets wait and hear wat he has to say,till then stop gossiping… Haile you will allways be my hero!!!
i am not a fan of what is going on in ethiopia. we shouldnt always blame devil for our failures. if haile thinks that meles zenawi is the best in the world, as he said nothing is wrong with that. if he didnt mean it he shouldnt say it. either haile is a fan of meles zenawi or he coward.
Weyaneism is nothing short of mafia business. This mafia gangesters are trying to detach Haile from the people by a simple blackmail. This is infamous tactic used by the British in the cold war that I read in a book sometime ago, written by a former second in command of the MI6 (British secret service ) titled the “Spy Catcher”. The weyane’s political advisor, Patrick Gilkes must have thought his client, Meles.
This is clearly a well or hestrated Mafiosi business, the antithesis to the “good governance” that has been the new song of the west……as if !
God bless your struggle for a just justice.
Well,first and foremost,Haile G/sellasea must come forward and expose every satnic and anti-Haile activies that have been carreid out by this,idiot witch,Azeb Golla Mesfin.This poorly reared and gravely illeterate robber,Azeb Golla Mesfin must be captured along with all members of the crimefamily and make all them walk on their weak knees to face justice.
guys don’t be fooled. this s just a public relation work by haile and his agent.thisis reverse psychology–haile is worried about his lost reputation and rejection by Ethiopians so he is acting as if he was neutral.
This man has the loudest voice that could echo around the world to penetrate eardrum of hundreds of millions of good human beings to plight of Ethiopians. He has ready kinetic power to echo million fold voices of voiceless millions, whose plight has been heard intermittently from Human Rights Watch, Genocide Watch, State Departments Country Report, New York’s Economy Professor, Amnesty International, Election Observers from Democratic Nations, and other friends of humanity and endlessly demonstrating and Candle Holding Ethiopians. He also has a power to be the coward hero. Just for a note, it is a punishable crime to observe a crime and do noting in some European countries. Even thou their ambassadors and crimes against humanity and democracy financers appear to have diplomatic immunity to that principle. I wish he distinguishes his difference of concern for right from foreigners by adding voice to his peoples plight for himself is as a great statesman to be remembered as the who spoke when there was a great need to speak and the a great runner who run with a world record when there was a need for a great runner and as an individual who stood for doing right for his country and for the greater common good.
Well, the situation is not as simple as we guess it. It takes the courage to speak in any way. Haile knows what is best for him. Here is the clear cut deal. If he stands with Ethiopians, he will have to make a bold decision to lose all his properties to the tplf gangs. Will he make this choice? Not at all. So, he will prefer to lose all us which of course won’t hurt him that much given his knee interest to do business.
Hmm… Haile Gebreselassie made lots of money through his successful running career. OK!
Haile Gebreselassie invested his money in hotel and real state business in a Wayanestan empire. ABSOLUTELY NOT OK!
Haile Gebreselassie praised “The great one man Dictator” of Wayanestan armed to the teeth by saying, “he is a great man and his hero.” ABSOLUTELY BAD BUT CORRECTLY STATED for lack of choices and for the protection of his corporal and financial securities. Who am I from distance and out of Wayanestan to advice him the contrary behavior through safe remote control devices of no practical benefits??
I may also ask my myself as to why it must be professional thin and lean sportsman Haile who as a lone wolf must choose to confront the fat over fed, over armed and wild armed barbarians while the entire Ethiopian empire’s opposition politicians from all parts of the empire went absolutely silent and tongue tied in Wayanestan and in the presence of the grrr… great dictator?
COME ON FOLKS! Why do we want lone Haile crucified like our LORD JESUS CHRIST for 80 million people, including myself, while we are happy to be divided and bickering like always?
By the way, I like his compassionate behavior including his assistance of Birtukan’s holidays and his participation in the Nakamte sport stadium project.
Don’t forget that Haile gave one of his best medals to the bucher Meles. He made a speech about Meles as he is the best leader of Ethiopia.
Now,Haile is trying to fool us.
It is true that he joined TPLF , and we won’t forgive him.
Mot lewoyanie
Elias,
If Ethiopia had 10 or 20 of Ethiopians like you opposing these Weyane cowards with some balls and guts – Weyane could have been finished way back in days or months.
You’ve reported the intimidation’s Haile is facing before any one, and KUDOS for that!!! Like you, Burtukan STOOD UP to weyans – Look what the cowards at ESFNA did. Bend their back (ass…)to Weyanes!!! Ironically, one of the mouth pieces of ESFNA (or should I put it Weyan mouth piece) has the audacity of calling Ethiopian Review (a respected Ethiopian and Horn of Africa News Journal) a tabloid site. New York Times would not refere or quote in their reporting if Ethiopian Review is considered a tabloid news journal.
Ethiopians, like your brothers in the Horn of Africa who are UNITED and ACT as ONE (Kenyans, Somalians, Eritreans, Sudanese…) you can beat these coward Weyanes within days if you
focus on your public enemy number one.
Unite and Stand up Ethiopians!!! Too LONG you’ve been pickering with non-sense issues.
I knew it. I think Haile was lying when he failed finishing the run, it was because so that other Tigray runner could win. I knew it! They are setting Haile now. Since he doesn’t want partnership with thieves Azeb and Meles but honestly want to get his hard earned money and employ and help Ethiopians, this is a revenge against him and forcing him even to retire. Haile is world renown star therefore we need to distribute this news all over the world and to prevent the Junta from harming him. They might even confiscate or cause accident and kill him to take his property. He might even escape.
We must tell the world Haile the treasure of Ethiopia to be protected from the jaws!
These people will continue to take all the money within that country until the last cent . If things continue the same way we might be looking at barter system within Ethiopia soon. Now would be the right time to start sending emergency suppiles .