Huffingtonpost selling anchor text backlinks?

[PaddyDisplays]

I found this article on huffingtonpost.co.uk

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/john-maclachlan/top-5-most-influential-ma_b_3682369.html

In the 2nd paragraph it has the words "mannequin retail displays", linked to a site that sells mannequins.  The link has nothing to do with the story and it seem ( to me a least) its been paid for.

Looking at other old posts by the same author its does not seem to be a one off:

http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/john-maclachlan/celebrity-honeymoons_b_3962560.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/john-maclachlan/cruise-holidays_b_3898661.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/john-maclachlan/five-of-the-worlds-most-important-rivers_b_3761599.html
http://www.huffingtonpost.co.uk/john-maclachlan/the-top-4-manliest-jobs-in-the-world_b_3694431.html

I'm just surprised that a site as big as the huffington post selling back links in this way

[Oli-Sherry]

I suspect that this is more something the author is doing, rathering than Huffington Post itself....

[KevinBudzynski]

They use a ton of guest writers.  I agree w/Oliver that it's probably the writer placing the links. However, they should probably do more review/qa or else it could potentially hurt them in the long run. Great catch Paddy!