LONDON -- Formula One's governing body is keeping its distance from sexual allegations in a British tabloid newspaper about its president, Max Mosley.

"This is a matter between Mr. Mosley and the paper in question," an International Automobile Federation (FIA) spokesman said.

"We understand that Mr. Mosley's lawyers are now in contact with that newspaper and the FIA has no comment."

The News of the World reported in a front page story that FIA president Mosley, 67, had taken part in a "sadomasochistic orgy" with five prostitutes that reportedly involved Nazi role-playing.

According to a story posted by the London-based Times Online on Monday, Mosley and others "re-enacted a concentration camp scene in which he played the role of both guard and inmate."

A video was also reportedly posted on the News of the World Web site. A check of the site Monday didn't find the video in question.

The News of the World printed pictures of a man who appeared to be Mosley, chained over a "torture" bench while being caned by a woman, and said that the acts took place in an apartment near Mosley's London home on Friday.

British media reports said Mosley paid 2,500 British pounds, which is a little less than $5,000, according to Monday's conversion rates.

Formula One chief executive Bernie Ecclestone told at least one London newspaper that Mosley's job was not in jeopardy.

"I find it difficult to believe. It's his business but it sounds to me like a set-up. Has he in any way damaged F1? No," he told the Daily Mail.

Later Monday, the Times Online reported that sources close to Mosley said he wouldn't resign.

Jewish leaders in Great Britain condemned Mosley.

"This is sick and depraved," Karen Pollock, chief executive of the Holocaust Educational Trust, said, according to Times Online. " ... I am absolutely appalled."

Stephen Smith, director of the Holocaust Centre, said: "As Mr. Mosley has condemned the racism in motorsport he should live up to the standards he sets. This is an insult to millions of victims, survivors and their families. He should apologize. He should resign from the sport."

Mosley is the son of the late Oswald Mosley, founder of the pre-war British Union of Fascists. Mosley is married with two sons. He has been president of the FIA since 1993.

http://sports.espn.go.com/rpm/news/story?seriesId=6&id=3322012

3/31/2008 3:29:11 PM

Quote :

"FIA president Mosley, 67, had taken part in a "sadomasochistic orgy" with five prostitutes that reportedly involved Nazi role-playing."

btw suddenly governor spitzer seems pretty normal

[Edited on March 31, 2008 at 3:32 PM. Reason : .]

3/31/2008 3:31:13 PM

Awesome thread. No one here reads espn.com

3/31/2008 5:08:11 PM

I've been involved one or two of those. This is nothing uncommon.

[Edited on March 31, 2008 at 6:03 PM. Reason : volved]

3/31/2008 6:03:45 PM

wat

3/31/2008 6:14:22 PM

people with the means to do so, will always gonna fuck hookers and do drugs

why are people so shocked when they hear about people banging hookers and doing blow off their asses

3/31/2008 6:21:56 PM

so he fucks over F1, now this.......

3/31/2008 9:10:09 PM

update:


Persona Non Grata: Carmakers attack Mosley as kinky FIA prez gets barred from Bahrain

Quote :

"IA president Max Mosley, seen above at the 2006 Bahrain Grand Prix, had a whole pack of nails hammered further into his career's coffin as the Kingdom of Bahrain asked the embattled FIA president not to come to the race in the gulf state. The letter, sent by the country's ruler Crown Prince Sheikh Salman Bin Hamad Al-Khalifa, said it would be "inappropriate" for Mosley to show up in Bahrain and hit the news around the same time as the FIA announced that Mosley – who redefined the term "auto erotic" with the revelation of his disturbing sex life – would stay in London during the race to deal with "legal matters". As if that weren't enough to end Mosley's career, several major automakers participating in Formula One have lined up to express their dismay at Mosley's behavior. BMW and Mercedes-Benz issued a joint statement calling Mosley's actions "disgraceful" and calling on the FIA to take action against its president. The statement from the rival German automakers was followed by similar declarations from Honda and from Toyota, urging the FIA to impeach Mosley in light of his "behaviour which could be understood to be racist or anti-Semitic". Don't be surprised to see other teams and manufacturers issuing similar statements as the heat continues to rise for Mosley."

4/4/2008 10:22:04 PM