KEY POINTS:
Rowing NZ does not believe a rumour of funding irregularities in its ranks is aimed at the more than $3 million of Government money it received in the year to June 30.
The Government funding agency Sport and Recreation NZ (Sparc) says the rowing body has indicated to it that the claim, which is under investigation by an independent auditor, is unlikely to be directed at the $3.07 million of taxpayers' money allocated to the code.
The chairman of Rowing NZ's board, Bill Falconer, confirmed last night from Thailand that he did not believe any Sparc money was involved, but he would not discuss any alternative area of concern.
He said he had no idea of the truth of an unsourced suggestion by the Bay of Plenty Times that grants from gaming proceeds were believed to have been used to buy boats of a different size than included in Rowing NZ funding applications.
"I really don't want to say anything more until I have had a chance to review the work that has been done over the last few days," he said of the investigation, which his board initiated after he became aware of the rumour early last week - as he was preparing to leave for the world rowing championships in Germany.
The investigation led to the early return from Munich of Rowing NZ chief executive Craig Ross to assist the auditor, at the price of missing out on watching his team haul in three gold and two silver medals.
Mr Falconer said he was in no position to confirm or deny the Tauranga newspaper's understanding that there was no money missing or issue of criminality within his organisation.
"I would be very surprised if that were wrong, and I have no evidence otherwise, but I simply do not know."
Mr Ross has not returned calls from the Herald, but told the Times yesterday he had given his board an undertaking that he would avoid making any public comments until the matter was resolved.
