Appointments to NZ Sports Drug Agency Board

Minister for Sport and Recreation Trevor Mallard is pleased to announce the appointment of Professor David Gerrard to Chair of the New Zealand Sports Drug Agency Board and Justice Tony Ellis as new member of the board.

NZSDA’s mission is to provide a sporting environment free of banned doping practices for New Zealand athletes and sport in general.

Prof Gerrard replaces David Howman who has taken up appointment of Executive Director of the World Anti-Doping Agency.

Trevor Mallard said Prof Gerrard brings specialist sports medicine and science experience to the Board and has the requisite experience required of the Chair.

“Following discussions with the current Chair and the Chief Executive, it is apparent that the Agency is entering a period of considerable pressure and high workload with the upcoming adoption of a world anti-doping code and the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens.

“As such, it is very important that the Board maintains continuity of expertise and membership, particularly in the critical position of Chair.

“Justice Ellis, as a new board member, will provide the vital legal expertise that will be lost with the departure of Mr Howman. Legal knowledge on the Board is a requirement under the Act, and is particularly important in the development of the anti-doping sector,” Trevor Mallard said.

Justice Ellis has had a distinguished career. For example, he was appointed as a Queen’s Counsel in 1981, and was Acting Chief Justice from 2002 until his retirement in October that year. He has also had the positions of President of the Electoral Commission, Chairman designate of the Parole Board, President of the New Zealand section of the International Commission of Jurists, Vice-President of the New Zealand Law Society, and member of the Criminal Law Reform Committee.

Justice Ellis also has an interest and background in sport. He was President of the New Zealand Universities Sports Union and Blues Panel and a member of Council of the New Zealand Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association. He is also a recipient of Victoria University and New Zealand University Blues in fencing.

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