Canoe Racing New Zealand (CRNZ) has expelled double-Olympic gold medallist Alan Thompson from the governing body following three independent investigations into historical allegations of inappropriate behaviour.
The investigations conducted by Wellington QC Victoria Casey found that Thompson, 62, acted in a manner "unbecoming of a member" and brought the sport into disrepute by making "inappropriate sexualised remarks" to women athletes, CRNZ said in a statement.
Thompson's lawyer David Fraundorfer tells Newshub that the Olympian rejects all allegations and considers the process followed by CRNZ to be both deeply flawed and fundamentally unfair.
"Mr Thompson is saddened that his relationship with CRNZ has ended after his many years of service to the sport. Even so, he does not regret speaking out in relation to the welfare issues the sport faced," Fraundorfer said.
"He continues to reject the allegations made against him and highlights he was willing to participate in a process such as an arbitration that would allow him to call witnesses in support, test the substance of the complaints and put forward his case."
CRNZ said Thompson was also accused of indecently exposing himself to a female athlete on tour in Europe in 1991, and that clubs voted to expel him during the governing body's special general meeting late on Thursday (NZ time).
"The CRNZ board took the extraordinary measure of recommending Thompson's expulsion following the outcome of three independent investigations. The vote was taken immediately after the SGM via independent scrutineers," it says.
Reuters
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