Olympian pleads not guilty to rape charge

Photo / NZ Herald

Name suppression continues for a New Zealand Olympian who today pleaded not guilty to 12 charges, including rape.

The sportsman, whose age and occupation cannot be revealed, appeared before Justice Pamela Andrews facing charges of sexual violation, abduction, assault with intent to injure and male assaults female.

He pleaded not guilty to all counts in the High Court at Auckland today.

Crown prosecutor Aaron Perkins supported defence lawyer Hugh Leabourn's application for continued name suppression so that the complainant - understood to be the man's wife - would not be identified.

He has been remanded on bail after being ordered to surrender his passport and not contact any Crown witnesses.

No pretrial issues were raised, and his trial in the High Court has been scheduled to start on July 26 for an estimated five days.