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A New Zealand man who rocked the normally staid sport of lawn bowls when he exposed himself at a tournament has successfully appealed against a 10-year ban.
Bowls New Zealand (BNZ) suspended David File, a former member of the national bowls team, after the 43-year-old admitted he "flopped out my old fella" during a tournament at Gisbourne in April.
The BNZ's appeals committee overturned the ban, finding the punishment was "totally out of proportion to the seriousness of his misconduct" in a judgement handed down Thursday.
The committee instead imposed a fine of 500 New Zealand dollars (360 US).
It found File had exposed himself to male team mates in a locker room, not on the bowling green in front of spectators and rival players, as some complainants had alleged.
File told the committee "he was playing like a dickhead" at the tournament and exposed himself to team mates to illustrate his point, describing his actions as "just a silly joke".
The committee said File had been affected by alcohol, adding it "notes with concern the growing tendency for talented bowlers to seek to excuse improper, unethical or unacceptable behaviour or language because of their talent".
