By JULIE ASH
Olympic and former Team New Zealand sailor Daniel Slater has been let off with a warning after being found guilty of unsportsmanlike behaviour.
Slater's fate was decided yesterday by Yachting New Zealand's hearing panel comprising Sir David Tompkins, Royden Hindle and Jack Lloyd.
"A gross breach of sportsmanship such as
this can only be regarded as a serious matter and as such the penalty should denounce such behaviour," the panel said.
"Had it not been for one significant aspect, that is Daniel Slater's contribution to yachting, in particular through youth coaching and often on an unpaid basis, the penalty for such a gross breach would have been suspension."
The panel said the publicity and awareness that Slater had committed a "gross breach of sportsmanship" had served as a penalty and the appropriate punishment was a warning.
Slater could have faced suspension or a complete ban from the sport.
Yachting New Zealand's chief executive, Simon Wickham, said he was satisfied with the outcome.
"We were fortunate to have people of the calibre we had on the panel who could ensure there was a fair hearing," Wickham said.
"We are confident that their findings will serve as a message for others in terms of the standard of behaviour expected."
Slater competed at the Sydney Olympics in the 49er class and is trying to qualify in the Laser class for the Athens Olympics.
It is understood he emailed sailors competing at the yachting world championships in Cadiz, Spain, to gang up on another New Zealand sailor, believed to be Andrew Murdoch, to reduce his Olympic qualifying prospects.
The September regatta was the first stage of Olympic qualifying.
Murdoch finished ninth in the final race to grab overall seventh and qualify New Zealand for a spot in Athens.
