POOL AUTHORITY SEEKS ACTION ON DOPE CAKE

The Dunedin Pool Association wants its sister organisation in
Marlborough to take action over a cannabis scandal it says blighted an
otherwise successful tournament in Dunedin at the weekend.

Association president Elly Finnerty said the incident was particularly
disappointing as it overshadowed the first win for Otago in the South
Island 8-ball tournament since 1991.

"All that people have heard is that the Marlborough team that came to
play had cake trouble," Ms Finnerty said.

A 36-year-old Blenheim woman was arrested after four members of the
Marlborough team were treated at Dunedin Hospital after eating a cake
allegedly containing cannabis.

Police allege the cake was passed around in a hotel near the
Metropolitan Club where the tournament was held, and eaten by eight or
10 unsuspecting team members.

Ms Finnerty said she would write to the Marlborough association and
expected to see players banned if the cake allegations proved correct.

"We have been trying for years to improve the image of pool. Sponsors
will be really hard to attract after reading about that," she said.
"We do view it extremely seriously. With any sport, publicity like
that doesn't help."

Many juniors were involved in the sport, and their parents might now
be thinking twice, Ms Finnerty said.

A self-employed cleaner is due to appear in Dunedin District Court on
November 21 charged with supplying cannabis.