Elite athletes or their families have posted statements about their health or personal matters.
False. The statements don’t exist, and the claims are part of a foreign-run disinformation operation.
AAP FactCheck - Foreign-run Facebook pages are targeting sports fans with disinformation about the health or personal lives of prominent Australian athletes.
The pages falsely suggest the families of several sports stars have issued statements announcing significant news about athletes, including swimmer Emma McKeon and former tennis player Lleyton Hewitt.
However, the statements attributed to them have been made up.
Meta's page transparency details show the Facebook pages behind the claims are run by users in Vietnam.
An August 11 post claims that McKeon's family had "shared an update" about the retired swimmer's "current situation".
"The latest details have quickly drawn attention, because behind the strong image of an Olympic champion lies a story that no one expected to hear at this moment," the post reads.
The page encourages readers to click a link to a website that suggests McKeon is going through an unspecified life struggle.
"Family members emphasized that Emma needed an extended period of peaceful rest to recharge both physically and mentally.
"They assured anxious followers that she is currently surrounded by loved ones, receiving excellent care, and focusing on wellness away from the continuous pressures of elite training," the website claims.
However,...
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