Todd defender scorns 'talkback Jim'

By EUGENE BINGHAM political reporter

Olympic authorities have dismissed a burst of outrage from the Deputy Prime Minister over the Mark Todd issue as the equivalent of somebody ringing radio talkback.

But Jim Anderton's criticism of Todd and the NZ Olympic Committee yesterday was the highest-level tongue-lashing since the drug scandal blew up.

The Alliance leader said NZ would be humiliated and have its reputation tarnished if evidence of wrongdoing was presented after Todd rode for the equestrian team at next month's Games in Sydney.

He called on Todd to confirm or deny, for the sake of the country, the accusations of cocaine use made by Britain's Sunday Mirror newspaper.

If they were true, he should not go to the Olympics.

Mr Anderton's volley came after the issue was raised at cabinet on Monday. Ministers informally discussed the risk to NZ's reputation and whether the Government could take any action.

No formal decisions were reached, but Mr Anderton decided yesterday to speak out because he believed the matter would become a political problem should it escalate.

"It won't just be Mark Todd who will be in the middle of stories then, it will be NZ and our reputation.

"If this matter brings NZ into further disrepute, then those who have chosen to take no action, including Mark himself, will take full responsibility for it."

Todd told the Herald late last night that he did not want to respond to Mr Anderton's remarks.

"I don't really care, actually. He's entitled to his opinion.

"I'm sick of it. I'm finding it extremely difficult and I just don't want to say anything."

Todd said he was stuck on the side of the road "trying to change a bloody tyre."

"I'm not going to talk so you are just wasting your time. I'm sorry."

The Olympic Committee board said last week that it had completed its inquiries into the matter and Todd would remain in the team.

Committee secretary-general Mike Hooper said yesterday that nothing Mr Anderton said had changed the board's position.

"Thank you, Mr Anderton, one more who has made his view known - he could ring [broadcaster Murray] Deaker's show and talk on talkback, couldn't he?

"I respect the right of the Deputy Prime Minister, like the person who rings the Deaker show, to have an opinion. We're not going to debate with Mr Anderton or others the pros and cons or anything else."

Sports Minister Trevor Mallard distanced himself from Mr Anderton's comments, saying they did not represent a Government position.

But he indicated that he, too, was not comfortable with the situation.

Olympian wall of silence deflects the questions

The Herald asked the board of New Zealand's Olympic Committee if Mark Todd should be in the Sydney Olympics team and whether the matter needed further investigation.

Their replies:

* Board president and former Governor-General Sir David Beattie had no statement to make other than the one released last week.

* Geoff Balme, a former luge racer, gave the same reply as Sir David.

* Sports lawyer Tim Castle had no response to make publicly.

* Retired weightlifter Bruce Cameron had no further comment.

* International Olympic Committee member Tay Wilson said: "You have had all the comment you are going to get."

* World Squash Federation president Susie Simcock had no comment.

Former national hockey representative Peter Miskimmin and New Zealand Tennis official Eion Edgar could not be contacted.