Daryl Tuffey fined $1000 for serious misconduct

New Zealand Cricket (NZC) has fined fast bowler Daryl Tuffey $1000 after he admitted serious misconduct concerning an incident in which he was filmed engaged in a sexual act with a woman.


The fine was announced today by NZC after a week-long independent inquiry conducted by Hugh Rennie QC.


In a report outlining his findings, Rennie deemed the maximum penalty, terminating Tuffey's NZC and Northern Districts Cricket Association contract, was not appropriate.


Rennie said the publicity surrounding the matter carried its own penalty but more was needed. A financial penalty was an effective way of condemning Tuffey's actions, which were a breach of the players' code of conduct.


"He made a serious misjudgement in becoming involved, and a further error in not taking any action to have the recording destroyed," Rennie said in the report.


"However he did in the end take action, well before this inquiry arose."


Rennie said Tuffey had expressed to him and to NZC his deep regret at what he had done.


"It is clear to me that he has been personally distressed by his error of judgment and by its effect on persons who are close to him, and on the reputation of the sport which he has served with distinction."


The International Players Contract provides for a range of penalties, including termination of contract or fines up to $4000.


The report said that in late November at a private Christchurch address, Tuffey "engaged in conduct with a woman, which included a sexual element" but did not involve sexual intercourse, according to Tuffey.


"This contact was for a short period, was discontinued voluntarily by both, and there was no further contact then or afterwards," the report said.


"While doing that he realised that they had been recorded on a digital camera.


"Initially he did nothing to recover that recording or prevent it from being shown."


Rennie said even though the act with the woman was consensual, Tuffey accepted that the existence of the recording took the conduct beyond his private rights.


While the report did not identify who took the recording, it has been widely reported it was carried out by British men Paddy Curtis and Archie Brookbank, both 19.


The two tourists had since left New Zealand but before doing so had reportedly shown footage of the act on their digital camera screen to other members of the public.


The pair could not be contacted to help the inquiry but Rennie said he had received information from a number of people with a direct knowledge of the events.


Also, Rennie said Tuffey had been fully cooperative throughout, immediately admitting his act was serious misconduct.


Tuffey said he had no prior knowledge that a video clip was being made on the small digital camera. He first became aware of it while the clip was being filmed.


The clip was believed to last between 20 and 30 seconds.


"It seems to have been associated with other video material of a similar nature, which did not involve Mr Tuffey and which lasted for some minutes," the report said.


Earlier this year Tuffey encountered the British pair, was shown the video clip on the camera and deleted it himself. Tuffey told Rennie the pair had not made a copy of the clip and there was no evidence that a copy existed anywhere.


The incident came to NZC's notice this month.


Rennie said as an international sportsman, Tuffey had a "special place in society" which demanded he abide by the NZC players code of conduct.


"He is a prominent member of teams which are a face of our nation. Sportsmen and women of his standing are often seen as ambassadors between different nations. To many people they may be personal role models.


"Mr Tuffey, as a participant in the modern world of commercial sport, has further obligations. As his International Players Contract records, he is or may be called upon for promotional work, training, commercial ventures, participation in media activities and in publications."


Tuffey has played 22 tests and 76 one-day internationals but was dropped from the side during last month's one-day series against Australia after a horror display in his opening over at Auckland.


- NZPA