Reporter says she will countersue former Vancouver Olympics chief John Furlong

VANCOUVER – The reporter who wrote a story about alleged abuse by former Vancouver Olympics chief John Furlong says she will countersue him for suggesting she didn’t do the proper research.

Laura Robinson says Furlong intentionally misinformed the public about her professional ethics when he accused her of a shocking lack of diligence and having a vendetta against him.

After the story was published last week, Furlong denied the abuse allegations and said in a statement that his character had been recklessly challenged and that he would be taking legal action.

Robinson says she repeatedly tried to contact Furlong through emails to the publisher of his book released after the 2010 Games, and then in April 2011 when she directly and politely asked him about the alleged abuse.

She says Furlong screamed at her not to ask him any questions about his time as a physical education teacher at a Roman Catholic school in Burns Lake, B.C., from the late 1960s to the early 70s.

The story in the Vancouver weekly newspaper the Georgia Straight quoted former students who alleged he physically and mentally abused them, accusations Furlong denies.

Robinson says she also repeatedly contacted Furlong’s lawyer, but was told her questions were irrelevant.

Furlong says he will not discuss the matter further while he takes legal action.