Radio Cui Bono

The three judges did not doubt the existence of the virus, but in the court's opinion, the six studies presented did not comply with the prize. Lanka had asked for one paper to prove the existence and size of the measles virus. "Bardens, however, did not submit this one paper," writes the Schwäbische Zeitung in its live coverage.

Formally, it was not a bet or a competition, but a competition, the judges said in their reasoning. In this case, only the awarding authority could determine the rules - and decide when the criteria were fulfilled. The anti-vaccinationist had not accepted the six works submitted.

The decision was "purely legal"
"But you could have submitted 600, he would not have accepted any," the presiding judge said to Bardens, a medical doctor. The decision said nothing about the existence or non-existence of the measles virus, Judge Oleschkewitz emphasised. After all, the chamber could not judge that at all. "It is a purely legal decision," he said. The only point of contention was the wording of the announcement.

Translated with www.DeepL.com/Translator (free version)