Cycling: Games inquiry 'may take long time'

A CyclingNZ inquiry into the behaviour of three cyclists in the Melbourne Commonwealth Games village could be a drawn out affair, a top cycling official said yesterday.

Meanwhile, the riders involved would be able to represent the country.

The New Zealand cycling team at the Games were rocked after an Australian newspaper reported two cyclists tried to strip and urinate on a female teammate in the Games' village in the early hours of March 19.

None of the three cyclists has been officially named, but Games sources say Tim Gudsell, Marc Ryan and Liz Williams were involved.

Initially, a question of jurisdiction over the incident had arisen because the cyclists had returned to New Zealand but New Zealand Olympic Council secretary-general Barry Maister said yesterday CyclingNZ, an arm of BikeNZ, would carry out the investigation.

Maister said a review of the incident had been done immediately with New Zealand team chef de mission Dave Currie, BikeNZ and with the riders concerned.

Maister said NZOC had very little sanction it could impose on the athletes other than long-term consideration about non-selection for future Games teams.

"It is much better BikeNZ take appropriate action because it is dealing with their athletes all the time."

CyclingNZ president Wayne Hudson said once he received the official report, he would convene a judicial panel of probably three, including himself.

Whether the inquiry would be carried out as a physical hearing or on the basis of written submissions would then have to be decided.

Until then, the athletes concerned could continue to represent the country.

Hudson said CyclingNZ had a disciplinary procedures policy and "penalties are whatever we choose to impose".

- NZPA