Athletics: Official silence on Walker muzzling

By TERRY MADDAFORD

Athletics New Zealand chairwoman Joanna Hickman is refusing to comment on an apparent standoff between her and Olympic great John Walker.

Walker, who was appointed to the ANZ board at its annual meeting, has been muzzled by Hickman and other directors, who say all media comment must come from the chairwoman or a yet-to-be-appointed chief executive/general manager.

Hickman was in Auckland on Monday, but an expected meeting with Walker did not eventuate.

"There was no meeting and I have no comment at this stage," Hickman said. "It is a board matter and the media policy was accepted by the board, including John Walker."

Walker missed last month's meeting at which Hickman was elected - he was delayed and missed his flight to Wellington by a couple of minutes - but Hickman said he had "been briefed on the subject."

"This [whether we meet in future] is a private matter," Hickman said. "There is no need for the media to know."

While Hickman admitted she had not met Walker since his election, she said she had met him in the past.

Walker has been told not to comment on matters concerning the sport. He finds this frustrating but something, at this stage, he prefers not to comment on.

Hickman, who is overseeing the management of the sport from its Wellington office, said: "It appears the media are making an issue out of nothing."

There is genuine concern that the New Zealand athletics ambassador with the highest profile the sport has had for years is being stymied by a myopic policy which is doing nothing for a sport battling falling numbers and a tarnished image.