Todd cleared to compete in Olympics

The New Zealand Olympic Committee has cleared equestrian competitor Mark Todd of drugs allegations, allowing the dual Olympic eventing champion to compete at the Sydney 2000 games.

The New Zealand Olympic Committee has cleared equestrian competitor Mark Todd of drugs allegations, allowing the dual Olympic eventing champion to compete at the Sydney 2000 games.

The NZOC conducted an investigation into claims made in a British tabloid newspaper that Todd had snorted cocaine during a binge in England.

NZOC secretary general Michael Hooper said the matter was closed.

"Mark is to remain a member of the New Zealand Olympic team for Sydney," Hooper said today. "There will be no further comment."

Todd, who has made limited comments since the allegations appeared in the press last month, said the decision had not come before time.

"I'm getting on with the job of building up for Sydney so I'm pleased with the decision," he said.

Todd, an eventing gold medalist at Los Angeles in 1984 and at Seoul in '88, was considered a certainty for the New Zealand Olympic team when the allegations emerged.

The 44-year-old Todd had already announced he will retire after the September 15-October 1 Sydney games.