This qualitative study investigates the complex relationship between the International Olympic Committee (IOC) and sports journalists via the theoretical lens of mediatization. The study uses 50 in-depth interviews with journalists, broadcasters, IOC officials and Olympic sports experts as the primary source of data. Historically, sports organisations and media members have maintained a mutually-beneficial, symbiotic working relationship, with each party using the other for different professional purposes. The media requires sports organisations for online articles, column inches, videos, podcasts and news reports. In turn, organisations such as the IOC use journalists to generate positive coverage of their events and to uphold its image and reputation. This study examines how the relationship between the IOC and sports journalists has deteriorated over time due to the consistent application of restrictive media tactics which are strategically implemented to impede journalists. Sports organisations use both ‘offensive’ and ‘defensive’ mediatization strategies in tandem to elicit media attention and to deflect from press scrutiny when necessary. Due to challenging working conditions resulting from these defensive mediatization strategies, Olympic journalists find it increasingly difficult to provide the same level of in-depth coverage of the IOC and the Olympics than in the past. This has resulted in many Olympic journalists leaving the profession and others instead switching sides to work for sports organisations in-house. This study adds new empirical evidence towards an expanded understanding of mediatization by analysing the impact of defensive mediatization. By doing so, this study contributes new knowledge towards contemporary discussions about sports journalism’s future viability and the underlying motivations behind sports organisations communications policies.