Is Todd sitting tall or riding for a fall?

Should a top sportsman who will not confirm or deny accusations of illegal drug-taking be allowed to represent his country? The Todd saga splits the nation.


Broadcaster Paul Holmes this week went in to bat for Todd after a Herald editorial criticised the NZ Olympic Committee's inquiry into British newspaper allegations that the equestrian great had snorted cocaine.

Drug use was much more acceptable in respectable society than newspapers seemed prepared to admit, said Holmes on his Newstalk ZB morning radio slot.

"Mark Todd will go to Sydney because the Olympic Committee and all who have dealt with Mark Todd over the years love him."

His comments echo earlier "innocent until proven guilty" statements from Eventing NZ selector Jim Wright, fellow selector Joan McCall and Olympic medallists Leslie Egnot and Ramesh Patel.

Responding to the Sunday Mirror's inquiries, McCall, a national selector since 1984, was quoted as saying: "If he did take it, it was probably a one-off thing. I don't give a hoot."

Early last month Mr Wright urged the media to focus on the benefits NZ had reaped from a 16-year run of equestrian success. "Why keep on knocking ourselves to death?" he asked.

Todd's eventing team-mate Vaughn Jeffris was the first to publicly support Todd, saying he did not believe the Sunday Mirror's allegations.

"Everybody who is close to Mark and understands Mark thinks it's really tragic and just wished the rest of the world would get off his case."

As for Todd, he remains unmoved by calls for him to deny the allegations.

"I'm sick of it," he said this week. "I'm finding it extremely difficult and I just don't want to say anything. I'm not going to talk, so you are wasting your time. I'm sorry."

Todd's right to remain silent was defended this week by Sports Minister Trevor Mallard, who last month nominated the rider as one of his heroes.

Mr Mallard says there is no legitimate Government role in the situation.

That threw the issue back to the Olympic committee - which has repeatedly refused to outline the extent of its inquiries into the allegations against Todd.

What is clear is that it did not seek the videotape evidence that the Sunday Mirror claims to have of Todd snorting cocaine.

In a three-sentence statement eight days ago, the committee cleared Todd to compete in Sydney. "The matter is now closed."

Early last month, its secretary-general, Mike Hooper, was upbeat about the need for Todd to clarify his position.

But this week, without that clarification, Mr Hooper would only say that the committee had concluded its investigation.

Concern is growing at the highest levels in New Zealand that the impasse over Mark Todd's alleged use of cocaine could come back to haunt New Zealand - at any time.

After the cabinet discussed the risk to New Zealand's reputation on Monday, Deputy Prime Minister Jim Anderton called on Todd to confirm or deny the Sunday Mirror's accusations "for the sake of the country."

He said New Zealand would be humiliated and have its reputation tarnished if evidence of wrongdoing was presented after the Olympic Games.

"It won't just be Mark Todd who will be in the middle of the stories then, it will be New Zealand and our reputation. If this matter brings New Zealand into further disrepute then those who have chosen to take no action, including Mark himself, will take full responsibility for it."

Even Prime Minister Helen Clark voiced concern that Todd could be challenged over the allegations.

"The only issue really is whether he is vulnerable to a challenge if he were to win a medal. I can only assume the Olympic committee has taken advice on that."

In the face of the administrative and political indifference, former Olympian Dick Quax is continuing to call for Todd to come clean.

"I feel like I'm on a lone crusade almost - I don't have a problem with that and I do get a lot of support and faxes."

He says there are well-documented examples of suspensions over recreational drugs in other sports and it could be argued that cocaine is performance-enhancing.

"There's a lack of understanding of exactly what the Olympic committee can do," he said. "It doesn't have to be proven beyond reasonable doubt that somebody has taken drugs."

Quax says the issue "isn't going to go away" - a sentiment echoed by John Davies, another former Olympian and New Zealand's Olympic chief-in-waiting. He worries that the newspaper revelations could resurface during the Games.

"Basically, I don't believe he should have been selected without having this cleared up," he said yesterday.

Mr Davies' concerns are backed up by former Sunday Mirror sports editor Bob Harris, who believes Todd will be lucky to escape without another story coming out. "It's relevant, and if Mark wins a medal, particularly a gold medal, then it's pretty certain they'll swoop again."