Sold Out But Who Cares

October 25th last year doesn’t seem too long ago. Truth is it’s only been 127 days. That was when Radio NZ reported the fall of former Olympic Triathlon Champion, Hamish Carter. Carter was exposed as a leaker of what was supposed to be confidential information, to former national track cycling coach Anthony Peden. He was exposed as a snitch.

In reporting Carter’s deception Radio NZ’s account included the comments shown in the table below.

The fall from grace of Olympic champion Hamish Carter is staggering,

His betrayal of trust of fellow Olympians undermines so much of what is good in sport.

At best, this is a severe case or poor judgement

You could understand if others who have told him things in confidence are now feeling a little nervous.

Now there are several issues quite apart from the monumental breach of trust.

Athletes’ trust in Cycling New Zealand and HPSNZ is no doubt in tatters but they were sold out by one of their own – a former athlete.

“Confidentiality is fundamental to having a trustful relationship with our athletes”. But the silence from Cycling New Zealand, HPSNZ and Sport NZ in the wake of Carter’s fall from grace is deafening.

At the time I agreed with Radio NZ’s attitude. I didn’t write anything about the episode, preferring not to risk the accusation of kicking a guy when he is down. After all he did resign and apologise. Radio NZ’s explanation of Carter’s apology and their opinion of its sincerity are shown in this next table.

Has he contacted the athletes involved and personally apologized or are a few trite lines in a statement all they are getting?

“I feel very sad to be moving away from sport, something I truly love and am passionate about,” the statement said.

“I hope that one day I can return, but for now I need some time away.”

It remains to be seen whether the “old boys club” will still be there to welcome him back.

So what do we know from all this? We know that Carter snitched on his mates. We know he resigned and faded from public view seemingly reconciled to serving a self-imposed period of home detention. It was time for Hamish Carter to atone for a shocking lapse of judgement.

But today we have been told the sentence for what certainly seems like Carter’s dishonesty is a mere 127 days. You see today Triathlon NZ announced they have appointed Carter as their General Manager of Performance.

In my opinion the dishonesty of everyone involved is overwhelming.

Dishonesty One – Carter committed the original sin by double-crossing his cycling mates.

Dishonesty Two – Triathlon New Zealand’s Chairman, Graham Perks, effort to sweep Carter’s deception under the carpet is pathetic. According to him there are no concerns about Carter’s dishonesty. He said, “That was dealt with in 2018. The sport is “lucky” to have him. A spokesperson lamely added that Triathlon NZ had,” Full confidence in his ability to do the job.”

Dishonesty Three – Carter’s wife Marisa is on the Board of Triathlon NZ. Of course she abstained from approving Carter’s appointment and will step down to ensure no further conflicts of interest. Too late Marisa – the smell of another double cross, true or not, will linger.

Dishonesty Four – The CEO of High Performance Sport NZ (HPSNZ), Michael Scott, said that the organisation was content with the recruitment process.

“Triathlon NZ, like all national sporting bodies, is an independent entity responsible for its own recruitment. We have been briefed on these two new appointments and are satisfied with the process that was followed,” he said.

There is no chance for New Zealand sport when this is the way they behave. The impression of disease and corruption is overwhelming. What Carter did was inexcusable. The Chairman of Triathlon NZ’s explanation is a pathetic whitewash. Carter’s wife has done the right thing but has left the stench of nepotism behind. And the boss of HPSNZ who promises us a new beginning and assures us of a bright new future has participated in the Carter dishonesty by giving legitimacy to a gigantic cover up.

In fact the opinion of the CEO of HPNZ is typical of the nonsense that comes out of sport in NZ. In his first sentence he says Triathlon NZ is independent and fully responsible for its own recruitment. And then, in his second sentence, he says Triathlon NZ has been required to brief HPSNZ and has received its approval for Carter’s appointment. That does not sound like independent freedom to me. Of course it is not. Scott is talking a mammoth pile of rubbish.

When Carter left Cycling New Zealand under a very black cloud, Radio NZ prophetically said,” It remains to be seen whether the “old boys club” will still be there to welcome him back.” Today we have the answer. If you have an Olympic Gold Medal, no matter what your sins, the “old boys club” will rally around and in 127 days all will be forgiven.

Wow, I wish Keith Hancox had been so easily forgiven. Months after his death and 27 years after his financial misdemeanors Swimming New Zealand has not mentioned his death or his contribution to the sport of swimming. Hamish Carter gets treated like a precious choir boy while someone who did make a difference to sport in general gets the Cotterill, Francis and Johns cold shoulder. Three years after investigating my coaching Swimming NZ has denied me the justice of sending me the investigator’s report. Hallowed Hamish Carter gets forgiven in 127 days. I can’t get justice in more than 127 weeks.

I have said before New Zealand sport is not being well led. This weekend we have further confirmation of that opinion. A word of caution to all triathletes – don’t trust the General Manager of Performance. There are some who have trusted him and lived to regret their mistake.

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