IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENT

Now, on to something altogether more important. Its not sexy, and its not going to sell the site, but please read this.  Everyone knows that bareback sex carries a high risk of HIV. If you do it, we're not knocking you, but get the facts and get checked. Sometimes people do things they know to be risky for money, and sadly nowhere is this truer than in the world of porn. Bareback films sell incredibly well. Prowler has a whole section devoted to them, and some people have made a lot of money from them. Most of the bareback content you'll see from major DVD labels like Eurocreme and Prowler is made by one company, ikandimedia.net. They tell models they will get more work if they do bareback, and say it will be ok if everyone gets tested first. With the most commonly used antibody test for HIV, many people know that there is a "window" of up to 3 months, maybe longer, between becoming infected with HIV and showing up positive on a test. During this time, you can still pass on the virus, even if you test negative. A leading GUM clinic has told us that HIV tests are not intended to be used as a guarantee of non-infectivity for this type of work. Sadly, one of the models who appeared in a film for us this year has recently tested positive after doing a bareback film for Ikandi. We are not saying it happened during the ikandi filming, we don't know. We spoke to the model concerned and believe he acted entirely responsibly. It comes down to HIV "certificates" being no guarantee of being HIV-free. Anyone who tells you otherwise is wrong. But don't take the advice of pornographers, not us or any other, speak to a GUM clinic or see one of the safer sex links on the left.

In a separate incident, we are told that another model who worked for ikandimedia.net was positive for several months but still managed to make more bareback films over this period. We don't know how, but if you do this type of work you might like to have a careful think about how rigorous producers are with the procedures they say they use. This model also did a (non-bareback) shoot for us in July. The film has not appeared on this site. We are so glad we used condoms in all the films at sportlads. We have spoken to all the models concerned to advise them of the situation.

Also you may have heard last year about a model on another site, BlakeMason, who became HIV positive after doing bareback work for ikandimedia.net. He has bravely spoken openly about what happened, and has gone on to do more work for BM.

We weren't at the ikandi shoots, so we don't know what the arrangements were and we are not pointing blame. What we are saying is what everyone already knows, and that is that barebacking is dangerous. If anyone tells you different, ask yourself what their motives are and get independent advice.  Don't do it, don't make it, don't buy it. We have every sympathy for the models concerned, who of course have been extremely distressed. It has affected their relationships, income, non-porn work and in one case there is a police investigation. We hope that if you know any of the models concerned, or indeed anyone HIV positive, that you will, like us, offer them your support and not blame them or shun them.

As a responsible producer, this is what we are doing right now -

• we are working with other producers, a GUM clinic, and HIV charities to draw up guidelines on good practice for the industry.
• until these are in place, we are only making solo shoots, although we will continue to add duos already shot, (all with condoms).
• As of sept 18th, we are going to donate 20% of sales revenue from sportlads (that's sales, not proffits) to a HIV charity that will work with models and the adult industry to promote safer sex in the industry, and generally. This will continue to Dec 31st when we'll review the ammount contributed.
• We will continue to provide links to safer sex information.

All this is a difficult and highly emotive area, but we'd be interested to hear any constructive suggestions you have. Have fun safely and enjoy the site! That simple message once again is -