Athletes seek Todd fallout cover

By LIBBY MIDDLEBROOK

Olympic athletes want to see contingency plans to protect them against the Mark Todd drugs scandal during the Games next month.

The Athletes Commission, representing the country's 147 Olympic competitors, is seeking assurances that the cocaine allegations against Todd will not have an impact on competitors.

"The whole idea really is we want to make sure this thing doesn't affect athletes," said commission convener Peter Miskimmin, who is holding talks with the New Zealand Olympic Committee.

"We want to keep this issue in perspective and [make sure] that athletes aren't bothered by this.

"We're just going to ensure that questions are asked so that there are contingency plans."

The Sunday Mirror in Britain alleged three months ago that Todd took cocaine during a romp with a gay lover.

The newspaper published pictures of the champion horseman allegedly leaning over a coffee table snorting the drug, which is banned by the International Olympic Committee.

While Todd has refused to confirm or deny the allegations, his place in the Olympic team is secure following a widely criticised investigation into the incident by the New Zealand committee.

Todd is likely to come under intense media pressure during the Sydney 2000 Games. The equestrian events are on the first four days after the opening ceremony on September 15.

Mr Miskimmin said the commission wanted to ensure that all athletes were protected, including Todd.

He said all Olympic team members should have access to the same services and equal support from team management during the Games.

Mr Miskimmin is a New Zealand Olympic Committee board member and a former international hockey representative.

While the commission was appalled at the way the Mirror had invaded Todd's private life, said Mr Miskimmin, it was a personal issue and not one that should affect the entire New Zealand Olympic team.

He refused to comment on Todd's refusal to confirm or deny the cocaine allegations. "At the end of the day any circumstances regarding Mark are related to Mark and not other athletes. That's our main concern."

Olympic committee secretary-general Mike Hooper and chairman Sir David Beattie could not be reached for comment.

Meanwhile, Todd has been named as one of the "seven sinners" in the upcoming Olympics by Sydney's Daily Telegraph.

The newspaper published a story headed "squad of shame," identifying seven Olympic athletes whose careers had been tainted by drug allegations.

Other athletes included Cuban high jumper Javier Sotomayor, who has been cleared to compete in Sydney despite a positive test to cocaine.

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