Dr Drake opposed by medical experts

Press, 21 November 1987, Page 17

Dr Drake opposed by medical experts

PA Wellington Opposition to Dr Lloyd Drake by medical advisors outweighed the wants of athletes when the appointment of Olympic team doctor was being considered, a top level administrator, Roy Dutton, says.

Mr Dutton, chairman of the New Zealand Olympic and Commonwealth Games Association, said the association had listened to advice from its own medical commission and the New Zealand Federation of Sports Medicine before appointing Dr Richard Edmond on Tuesday. Mr Dutton said as a general principle he believed in trying to give the athletes what they wanted, however when the recommendations came from the medical experts, Dr Drake, the man the athletes’ commission had championed, was well down the list of six nominees.

In the six years Mr Dutton has chaired the appointments committee, who make their

recommendation to the association executive. Dr Drake has always been low on the list of nominees for games doctor positions. Dr Drake has been nominated for every Olympic and Commonwealth Games since 1976 but has never been appointed. "This is a perplexing situation,” Mr Dutton said. “It would be a very dramatic and radical move to disregard the medical panels.” "Over the years we have depended on their expertise. Unless we departed entirely from the procedures there’s nothing we can do.” Mr Dutton said it had to be remembered that members of the appointments committee knew very little about medicine. “Our hands are tied. Imagine the public criticism if laymen over-ruled the professionals.” Mr Dutton said his committee, knowing the support for Dr Drake, had queried his

lack of standing with their advisors. “It was gone into very very thoroughly. We had discussions with a medical representative. We wanted to know why the same name was at the bottom of the list each time,” Mr Dutton said. “You naturally ask why.” “It concerns me greatly that we can not please the athletes simply because I have such a sympathy and concern for the athletes’ desires. I do feel very sad,” Mr Dutton said. "I’m an old competitor myself and I want to give the athletes what they want.” Mr Dutton said the association was well aware of what the athletes’ commission, chaired by John Walker, had wanted and they had been working towards fulfilling their requests. “We have steadily tried to implement what we can but it takes time. This one I can’t see a way round unless the whole system is changed.”