The identity of a well-known Kiwi sports star with alleged connections to an international drug syndicate will soon be released.
After numerous failed legal attempts, the Supreme Court will announce the athlete's name publicly on Friday afternoon.
The Crown mentioned the male a number of times during the drug-trafficking trial of Tevita Fangupo, Tevita Kulu and Toni Finau in 2019.
Despite the Crown dropping all charges, they allege the star was "intimately" involved with the offending.
Prosecutors claim he was involved in the transfer of money, bought drugs from Finau and offered to find the three men a supplier.
At one stage, authorities obtained a warrant to search the sportsman's house for a cell phone of interest, but it was never executed.
During the trial, the sportsperson denied all offending.
"I have never been involved in the importation of class A drugs. I have never changed or transported money for the defendants. I have never been involved in the purchase, supply or consumption of methamphetamine," he said in a statement.
Despite pleading his innocence, the Supreme Court said it was not in the interests of justice to allow the man to appeal the latest name suppression decision.
Justice Mathew Downs said that although naming the sportsman would likely cause him undue hardship, the alleged offending was serious. With high public interest in the case, holding police to account was important, he said, after deciding not to charge the sportsman.
All three men on trial were found guilty and are serving long-term prison sentences.
