Do the ends justify the means?

After I tell this story, I need to ask a question.

Sports stars and scandal have walked hand in hand lately. Tiger found himself out-of-bounds, while Ashley Cole's away form was the subject of  a media frenzy not long ago. Fans of all ages are waiting in the wings, wondering who will be the next big name to fall from grace, ruining, in a matter of hours, the careers that they have been working on since they were young kids with nothing but dreams.

Joe Calzaghe was the next to fall. A Welshman with an Italian father, Joe retired from professional boxing with a record of 46 wins from 46 professional bouts, one of four Europeans to finish their career as an undefeated World Champion. The "Italian Dragon" left a legacy as one of modern boxing's lingest serving world champions, wearing the Super Middleweight title for ten years, before he decided to relinquish it in favour of a move to light heavyweight. Heralded as British boxing's greatest ever fighter, Calzaghe retired in 2009 as a champion and a role model. Popular amongst everyone in British sport, he was honoured by his peers and the British public alike when he claimed the BBC Sports Personality of the Year for 2007. His star was high in the sky, but little did I know that it would only be a matter of time before it would all crash and burn.

Fast forward to 28 March 2010, a day which came as a knock-out blow to Calzaghe, something he was never faced with. The News of the World reported how the iconic boxing promoter, and Welsh role model has turned to cocaine since his retirement. He was exposed to the British public after their undercover reporter caught Calzaghe on camera snorting cocaine. All his own fault, some may say.

I am not here to debate whether it is right or wrong to take cocaine, as I know the answers will be pretty predictable. But the question I want to ask the collective, is: Do you think undercover reporting has a place in journalism? Is it morally acceptable to lie and deceive in order to get the big scoop?

This is'nt the first time the News of the World have used undercover reporters to expose sports people. In 2006, England football manager, Sven Goran Erikksson was the victim of a fake sheikh, offering him a new job and exposing Sven's greed. Sven announced his resignation as manager of England days later, a shodow hanging over the team only months before a World Cup.

So, tell me... Do the ends justify the means?

NT