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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]
The 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-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]
On 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]