A prominent national masthead has described an Australian racing identity as ‘colourful’.

The use of the adjective (which was passed fit to run by the publication’s legal department) appears to be a journalistic device designed to conveniently imply that a particular person associates with criminals — or is in fact a criminal themselves — without having to directly state it.

This masthead has chosen not to name the 55-year-old importer-exporter that was the subject of the latest such classification, though it is understood the man boasts a prominent thoroughbred bloodstock portfolio among other ‘varied financial interests’.

A special investigation conducted by The Pakistan Star found that of every media report published since the Fine Cotton scandal of 1984 that has used the phrase 'racing identity', the word 'colourful' has appeared immediately before it, without exception.

The investigation also found that every seeded player defeated at a tennis Grand Slam in that time period was described as having been “bundled out”, without exception.

More to follow.