Some of country's "most prominent women" have told New Zealand Rugby to "tidy up its act in the aftermath of the Chiefs stripper scandal." The Human Rights Commission has "sent a scathing open letter to the organisation, co-signed by 25 high-profile women" including Equal Employment Opportunities Commissioner Jackie Blue and Race Relations Commissioner Susan Devoy. Responding to it, NZR CEO Steve Tew acknowledged "recent events show we have not got it right." Last month, allegations were made that members of the Chiefs rugby team "inappropriately touched, licked and threw alcohol and gravel" at stripper "Scarlette" during "Mad Monday" celebrations.The letter said that the investigation "has highlighted to all new Zealanders that NZ Rugby's judiciary process is not appropriate for dealing with issues of integrity, mana, respect and basic personal rights" (NEW ZEALAND HERALD, 9/9).
OFF THE TABLE: Board of Control for Cricket in India President Anurag Thakur said that the country played a key role in "sinking a proposal for a two-tier structure in tests but it should never have been up for discussion" at the Int'l Cricket Council’s meeting. The ICC "shelved the proposal after opposition from India and other full members at a two-day meeting" at the world governing body’s HQ. Thakur said, "It is off the table. This should have been shot down at the proposal stage itself as it is not in the interest of all nations" (REUTERS, 9/8).
UNDER SCRUTINY: The Tennis Integrity Unit, the sport's primary anti-corruption body, is "investigating a women's singles match at the US Open after irregular betting patterns were detected." The first-round match, in which 15th-seeded Timea Bacsinszky of Switzerland beat Vitalia Diatchenko of Russia, 6-1, 6-1, was played on Aug. 30. A "match alert" regarding suspect betting was sent to the sport's watchdog by Russian bookmaker Fonbet. Another gambling site, Bet365, appeared to have "suspended betting for two games during the match and also moved to decrease the maximum wagers permitted." The unit reiterated that "an alert on its own is not evidence of match fixing" (SYDNEY MORNING HERALD, 9/8).
