The Sport Integrity Commission (Te Kahu Raunui[1]) is an independent New Zealand Crown entity that serves as the country's anti-doping agency. It is the successor to an earlier organisation called Drug Free Sport New Zealand.[2][3] Legislation establishing the Sports Integrity Commission was passed on 16 August 2023,[4] with the organisation launching on 1 July 2024.[5]
Mandate and functions
editThe Commission's mandate and functions include developing New Zealand's first sporting "Code of Integrity for Sport and Recreation" and investigating breaches of that code. The Commission also serves as a complaint and dispute resolution service. It also succeeds Drug Free Sport New Zealand as the country's national anti-doping agency.[3][4]
A central focus of the Commission is the well-being of sporting participants and ensuring they have better support and protections to raise integrity matters.[3][4] Other functions include protecting participants, combating discrimination, safeguarding children, anti-doping, anti-competition manipulation and anti-corruption.[1] The Commission also inherits the functions of the Sport and Recreation Complaints and Mediation Service (SRCMS) including investigations and complaints resolution.[1]
The Commission is led by a leadership board.[6] As of July 2024, its chief executive is Rebecca Rolls.[5]
History
editOn 16 August 2023, the New Zealand Parliament unanimously passed legislation establishing an independent Integrity Sport and Recreation Commission, which came into operation from 2024. The Commission also incorporated and assumed the functions of the anti-doping agency Drug Free Sport New Zealand.[3][4] According to Minister for Sport and Recreation Grant Robertson, the Commission was established to provide better support for sporting participants in raising integrity matters following several critical reviews into several of New Zealand's elite sporting environments and bodies in 2018, sports lawyer Stephen Cottrell's review into elite athlete rights and welfare and the August 2021 death of Olympics cyclist Olivia Podmore.[7][1]
On 24 May 2024, Sporting Minister Chris Bishop announced the Commission's inaugural board members. These included Chair sporting lawyer Don Mackinnon, Tim Castle, Chiefs Rugby franchise director Traci Houpapa, former Silver Ferns player Adine Wilson, former international rugby referee Lyndon Bray, Recreation Aotearoa co-chair Bobbi-Jo Clark-Heu, Rebecca McDonald, former All Blacks player Keven Mealamu and former Silver Ferns player Lesley Nicol.[6][8][9]
References
edit- ^ a b c d Johannsen, Dana (1 July 2024). "The making of New Zealand's newest government organisation". RNZ. Archived from the original on 3 August 2024. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
- ^ "Our transition to a new integrity commission". Sport Integrity Commission. 21 March 2024. Archived from the original on 20 July 2024. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
- ^ a b c d "New sports integrity commission gets green light". RNZ. Archived from the original on 14 July 2024. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
- ^ a b c d "New standalone integrity entity for sport formally established". Beehive.govt.nz. New Zealand Government. 16 August 2023. Archived from the original on 14 July 2024. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
- ^ a b "Sport integrity commission in place". The Star. 27 June 2024. Archived from the original on 14 July 2024. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
- ^ a b Bishop, Chris (24 May 2024). "Inaugural Board of Integrity Sport & Recreation Commission announced". Beehive.govt.nz. New Zealand Government. Archived from the original on 14 July 2024. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
- ^ Russell, Alexia (11 July 2024). "Sport in New Zealand has a new referee". Newsroom. Archived from the original on 14 July 2024. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
- ^ "Former Silver Ferns, All Blacks make up board of Integrity Sport and Recreation Commission". RNZ. 26 May 2024. Archived from the original on 20 July 2024. Retrieved 10 August 2024.
- ^ "Former All Black appointed to the inaugural Integrity Sport and Recreation Commission". Tagata Pasifika. 29 May 2024. Archived from the original on 14 July 2024. Retrieved 10 August 2024.