Integrity and respect are at the heart of the New Zealand Team and its culture of Manaaki. Following concerns communicated to the NZOC in September 2021 by Cycling NZ, the NZOC commissioned an independent investigation into a possible integrity breach that took place at Tokyo 2020. Barrister and highly experienced sports director Don Mackinnon was appointed to undertake the independent investigation and prepare a report with the findings. The investigation revealed the process to replace an athlete during a cycling event at Tokyo 2020 had not been conducted according to IOC and UCI rules. As such, it was also a breach of both NZOC agreements and IOC rules of conduct and participation at the Olympic Games. Findings relating to leaders of the Cycling Team at Tokyo 2020 were passed to Cycling NZ as an employment issue. The NZOC has been advised that the Cycling NZ internal process is underway. The International Olympic Committee has been briefed on the investigation and its findings and is satisfied with the action taken by the NZOC. The investigation took place under conditions of confidentiality and anonymity for the interviewees involved and respect for those unfairly impacted by the breach. As such the report will not be released publicly.
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