TARNISHED VALUES

IT IS LITTLE wonder this country has a crisis of morality, of values. When a
clear majority, according to polls, believe Mark Todd need not answer
cocaine-snorting accusations and should ride in the Sydney Olympics, it says
much about our priorities. We, as a nation, put medals ahead of morality.
We, as individuals, want to share in reflected glory more than hold fast to
self-respect.

Have those who back Mark Todd's unconditional Olympic participation, many of
them highly moral, thought through the issues? Do they truly realise what
sort of message is being given to New Zealand youth? Next time young people
are caught experimenting with drugs they can claim that what seems good
enough for a New Zealand hero is good enough for them. While they will not
escape punishment, they will have another reason to feel bitter about the
blatant hypocrisy of their elders.

The several serious arguments which have been mounted for Todd's inclusion,
nevertheless, do deserve responses.

One of the weakest is that because the Olympics is already full of drug
cheats and corruption the exclusion of Todd on the basis of allegations
alone would be, in its way, grossly hypocritical. But two wrongs do not make
a right. New Zealand, if it stands for anything, need not be pulled down to
lower it standards in concert with others.

Generally, we should be wary of snooping on and judging the private lives of
athletes. But, while we should not expect them to be unimpeachable role
models, the alleged taking of a class A drug goes way beyond, say, All Black
Tana Umaga's drunken staggers in the Square in Christchurch. We can also
accept that supposed sexual preferences with consenting adults or
philandering outside marriage is none of our business. Dabbling in hard
drugs, however, which kill so many, is another matter altogether.

It is also argued that the Sunday Mirror entrapped Todd in an unethical way.
Although the Mirror's tactics cannot be condoned, the fact remains that
evidence of apparent serious drug taking has become public. It is "out
there" and needs to be dealt with. Just because the British police have not
bothered to investigate or charge Todd does not mean that we, as the nation
which Todd represents, have no responsibilities.

What is more, Todd has not denied the use of a drug, which is on the Olympic
prohibited list, while continuing to receive large sums of public money
through the Sports Foundation. Oh that he would deny the charge: what a
collective sigh of relief would emerge over New Zealand then.

On top of these moral issues is the pragmatic fear of the shame that if Todd
wins a medal attempts will be made to strip him and New Zealand of it. Our
Olympic Committee's "investigation" was a farce. It would serve us right if
we were embarrassed because we were morally gutless in the first place. What
would have happened if Todd had not been one of New Zealand's greatest
sportsmen? Would a minor athlete with no realistic chance of a medal have
been treated the same way?

We live in a world of competing values, of complex moral issues, one where
compromise is often essential. But there must be times when we hit bedrock
values. We must be prepared to make a stand and the "curly". questions must
be answered. So what if we miss out on what after all is just a sporting
contest? We can, far more importantly, be proud in ourselves and for what we
stand. As the traditional English proverb puts its: Gold may be bought too
dear.

The glow from the prospect of gold medals is blinding far too many. If Mark
Todd does indeed win in Sydney without answering the allegations, that gold
will be pitted and tarnished. It will be a medal of disgrace not glory.