AS POLITICIANS SET BIG GROWTH TARGETS FOR THE ECONOMY. PLUS ` 'A LIVING HELL'. TOUR DE FRANCE WINNER SIR BRADLEY WIGGINS HITS BACK AT A DAMMING REPORT INTO DOPING IN SPORT. CAPTIONS BY STARSHA SAMARASINGHE AND ANTONY VLUG. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR. COPYRIGHT ABLE 2018 AHI AHI MARIE, GOOD AFTERNOON. PROPOSALS TO ARM TEACHERS IN AMERICA HAVE BEEN A TOPIC OF MUCH DEBATE IN RECENT WEEKS, AND NOW THE PLACE OF GUNS IN NEW ZEALAND SCHOOLS IS BEING SCRUTINISED. THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION HAS ANNOUNCED IT'S SEEKING FEEDBACK ON DRAFT FIREARM GUIDELINES. CURRENTLY THERE ARE NONE. JORDAN OPPERT REPORTS. THERE'S NO NEED FOR FIREARMS TO BE ON SCHOOL GROUNDS ` THAT'S THE MESSAGE FROM ONE PRINCIPAL. WE ARE A SOCIETY THAT SO FAR HASN'T NORMALISED GUNS TO THE DEGREE THAT SOMEWHERE LIKE, SAY, THE STATES HAS. SO WE SHOULDN'T BE DOING ANYTHING THAT ACTUALLY BRINGS THEM FAR TOO FORWARD INTO THE PSYCHE OF OUR CHILDREN. BUT SOME ADVOCATES ARGUE IT'S PART OF KIWI CULTURE. KIDS AND YOUNG ADULTS SHOULD LEARN THAT THEY ARE THERE, HOW TO USE THEM SAFELY IN A CONTROLLED ENVIRONMENT, AND THEY TEACH A LOT OF GOOD DISCIPLINES. THE MINISTRY OF EDUCATION DOES NOT SUPPORT UNSUPERVISED ACCESS OF FIREARMS IN SCHOOLS, BUT SAY THEY ACKNOWLEDGE THERE MAY BE LEGITIMATE CIRCUMSTANCES WHERE GUNS MAY BE PART OF A STUDENT'S EDUCATION OR SPORTING ACTIVITY. THE COUNCIL OF LICENCED FIREARMS SAYS RECREATIONAL SHOOTING IS ON THE RISE. PARTICULARLY SHOTGUN CLAY BIRD SHOOTING IS ACTUALLY VERY POPULAR AS A SPORT. AND WITH THE SUCCESS OF PEOPLE LIKE NATALIE ROONEY AND OTHERS, I THINK THAT'S GOING TO INCREASE. IT'S NOT UNCOMMON FOR THE DEFENCE FORCE TO VISIT SCHOOLS FOR CAREERS DAYS EITHER. JUST LAST YEAR A PHOTOGRAPH EMERGED OF KIDS POSING WITH MILITARY WEAPONS. THE MINISTRY'S DRAFT PLAN WOULD STOP THAT FROM HAPPENING AGAIN. IT'S TO ACTUALLY BRING SOME COMMON SENSE TO SCHOOLS AND WHAT YOU WOULD CONSIDER WHAT YOU'RE ALLOWING TO COME INTO THE SCHOOL IN THE FIRST PLACE. STAFF, STUDENTS AND PARENTS ARE ENCOURAGED TO HAVE THEIR SAY BEFORE THE CONSULTATION CLOSES IN A MONTH'S TIME. JORDAN OPPERT, 1 NEWS MEANWHILE IN THE US, THE FLORIDA SENATE IS DEBATING A BILL AIMED AT MAKING SCHOOLS SAFER. IT COMES IN THE WAKE OF THE HIGH SCHOOL SHOOTING IN PARKLAND FLORIDA THAT LEFT 17 DEAD. AS THE SENATE DEBATES, FAMILY MEMBERS WHO LOST LOVED ONES RALLY OUTSIDE THE HIGH SCHOOL. THE ABC'S MAGGIE RULLI HAS THE LATEST. FAMILIES WHO LOST LOVED ONES IN THE SHOOTING AT MARJORY STONEMAN DOUGLAS HIGH SCHOOL SAY THEY'RE DETERMINED TO MAKE SURE THEIR SONS AND DAUGHTERS' LEGACIES WILL BE REMEMBERED, FIGHTING FOR SAFER SCHOOLS AND CHALLENGING LAWMAKERS TO DO THE SAME. WHAT WE WANT TO KNOW HERE IS HOW WE'RE GOING TO MAKE OUR KIDS SAFE GOING TO SCHOOL EVERYDAY. AND NOT JUST OUR KIDS, ALL OF YOUR KIDS. THE FLORIDA SENATE'S BACK IN SESSION TODAY, AND FEELING THE PRESSURE. THEY'RE DEBATING A NEW SCHOOL SAFETY BILL. THE SENATE WILL BE IN ORDER. LAWMAKERS ARE STRUGGLING TO COMPROMISE. THEY ALREADY ARGUED FOR MORE THAN EIGHT HOURS DURING A RARE SPECIAL SESSION IN TALLAHASSEE ON SATURDAY. THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION WOULD RAISE THE MINIMUM AGE TO PURCHASE A GUN TO 21, AND IMPOSE A THREE-DAY WAITING PERIOD FOR GUN PURCHASES. BUT THE MAJOR HANG-UP REMAINS THE SCHOOL MARTIAL PROGRAMME, A PLAN THAT WOULD ALLOW FOR SOME TEACHERS TO BE ARMED IN THE CLASSROOM ON A VOLUNTARY BASIS. WOMAN: WHAT DO WE WANT? ALL: CHANGE! WHEN DO WE WANT IT? NOW! WHAT'S NOT IN THIS BILL ` A BAN ON ASSAULT AND ASSAULT-STYLE WEAPONS. SOMETHING THAT STUDENT ACTIVISTS IN PARKLAND HAVE BEEN PUSHING FOR. AN AMENDMENT THAT WOULD'VE OUTLAWED THOSE WEAPONS WAS VOTED DOWN BY THE SENATE LAST WEEK. TO THE MIDDLE EAST, AND AID HAS FINALLY BEEN DELIVERED TO DESPERATE CIVILANS TRAPPED IN EASTERN GHOUTA AS THE WAR RAGES ON IN SYRIA. 46 DELIVERY TRUCKS CONTAINING MEDICAL SUPPLIES AND FOOD WERE THE FIRST TO HAVE BEEN ALLOWED TO ENTER THE AREA IN THREE WEEKS. MORE THAN 700 PEOPLE HAVE BEEN KILLED IN CONFLICT IN THE REGION IN THAT TIME. THE BBC'S JEREMY BOWEN HAS THE LATEST. 46 LORRIES MOVED THROUGH SOME OF THE MOST DANGEROUS TERRITORY AROUND DAMASCUS TO GET INTO EASTERN GHOUTA. THE SYRIANS REFUSED TO LET THEM TAKE IN SOME SURGICAL AND TRAUMA KITS, BUT THEY CARRIED FOOD AND MEDICAL SUPPLIES FOR 27,500 PEOPLE. IT WAS A START. WE NEED TO BE SENDING CONVOYS AT LEAST THREE TIMES A WEEK TO BESIEGED AREAS SUCH AS EASTERN GHOUTA, WHERE THERE ARE SERIOUS SHORTAGES OF MEDICAL EQUIPMENT, MEDICAL SUPPLIES, FOOD, NUTRITION FOR NEARLY 400,000 PEOPLE TRAPPED INSIDE. THE LORRIES MOVED THROUGH THE FINAL SYRIAN ARMY CHECKPOINT ON THE EDGE OF EASTERN GHOUTA. THE FACT THIS CONVOY IS MOVING AT ALL IS A SIGN OF PRESIDENT ASSAD'S CONFIDENCE. SYRIAN ARMED FORCES ARE PRESSING AHEAD INTO EASTERN GHOUTA, THAT WAY, OF COURSE WITH THEIR RUSSIAN ALLIES. AND IF THEY WIN, AND AT THE MOMENT, THAT'S THE WAY IT APPEARS TO BE, PRESIDENT ASSAD WILL HAVE SCORED A VERY SIGNIFICANT VICTORY, BECAUSE FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE THE WAR STARTED, HE WILL HAVE SECURED HIS CAPITAL. THE ENCLAVE HAS BEEN CONTROLLED BY ISLAMIST MILITIAS SINCE 2012. SOME MILITIAS ARE NEGOTIATING, AND THERE'S TALK OF A DEAL. BUT NOT YET. THE UN'S CALL FOR A CEASEFIRE HAS BEEN IGNORED. SYRIA'S PRESIDENT SAYS THE WEST IS LYING ABOUT THE HUMANITARIAN CRISIS. THE UN SECRETARY GENERAL CALLS EASTERN GHOUTA 'HELL ON EARTH'. CASUALTIES GO TO A NETWORK OF UNDERGROUND CLINICS. IT'S A DENSELY POPULATED AREA, WHERE THERE'S NO ESCAPE FROM THE GROWN-UP'S WAR. $200B, THAT'S WHAT CHINA PLANS TO SPEND ON ITS MILITARY IN THE COMING YEAR. THE PROPOSAL WAS ANNOUNCED AT THE ANNUAL MEETING OF PARLIAMENT IN BEIJING. THE NATIONAL PARTY CONGRESS IS ALSO EXPECTED TO REMOVE THE TWO-TERM PRESIDENTIAL LIMIT, MEANING PRESIDENT XI JINPING CAN REMAIN IN POWER INDEFINITELY. THE ABC'S MATTHEW CARNEY REPORTS. 3000 DELEGATES CAME FROM ALL OVER CHINA TO THE GREAT HALL OF THE PEOPLE. ON THE AGENDA ` SCRAPPING THE CONSTITUTIONAL TWO-TERM LIMIT ON PRESIDENT XI JINPING. TRANSLATOR: CHAIRMAN XI IS FANTASTIC. HE'S LEADING CHINA ON A PATH OF GETTING RICH. WE, THE REPRESENTATIVES, ARE VERY SATISFIED. TRANSLATOR: I COMPLETELY SUPPORT AMENDING THE CONSTITUTION. IT WILL PUT XI JINPING THOUGHT INTO THE CONSTITUTION. THAT'S DUE TO HAPPEN LATER THIS WEEK, BUT TODAY POLICIES WERE ANNOUNCED. CHINA'S TARGET FOR ECONOMIC GROWTH IS BEING KEPT STEADY AT 6.5%. TRANSLATOR: WE WILL DEVELOP INTELLIGENCE INDUSTRIES AND IMPLEMENT THE NEXT GENERATION OF ARTIFICIAL INTELLIGENCE. CHINA'S DEFENCE BUDGET THIS YEAR IS UP BY 8%, TO $225B, AS IT PREPARES TO LAUNCH ITS SECOND AIRCRAFT CARRIER. FACED WITH PROFOUND CHANGE IN NATIONAL SECURITY, WE TREAT THE PARTY'S GOAL OF BUILDING A STRONGER MILITARY AS OUR GUIDE. CHINA'S DEFENCE BUDGET IS LESS THAN A THIRD OF THE US, BUT WILL WELL AND TRULY OUTPACE OTHER ASIAN COUNTRIES. FIRST IT WAS THE BIG FREEZE. NOW IT'S THE BIG THAW THAT'S CAUSING HEADACHES IN THE UK. THE RAPID RISE IN TEMPERATURES HAS LEFT THOUSANDS OF PEOPLE IN ENGLAND AND WALES WITHOUT RUNNING WATER BECAUSE OF BURST PIPES, AND THE ARMY'S BEEN CALLED IN TO DROP OFF SUPPLIES TO AREAS THAT'RE STILL CUT OFF BY SNOW. EUROPE CORRESPONDENT JOY REID REPORTS. TWO DAYS NO WATER. OH, GOD. OH, A TRICKLE. NOTHING. NOTHING. KIWI SUE KEARTON HAS LIVED IN LONDON 29 YEARS AND NEVER LOST WATER BEFORE. NO BATHS, NO SHOWERS. FLUSHING THE TOILET IS JUST ABOUT IMPOSSIBLE. TO MAKE MATTERS WORSE,... OH, IT'S ABSOLUTELY COLD. SEE, NO HEAT AT ALL. AND IT'S ON SIX. NOTHING. THE RADIATOR HEATERS ARE NOT WORKING EITHER. TERRIBLE, BECAUSE I'VE BEEN GOING THROUGH CANCER TREATMENT, AND IT'S AN ADDED STRESS FOR ME, REALLY. SHE'S ONE OF THOUSANDS IN SOUTH LONDON, WALES AND PARTS OF ENGLAND NOW NEEDING EMERGENCY WATER SUPPLIES. IN LONDON TODAY, IT'S 11 DEGREES, BUT JUST A FEW DAYS AGO IT WAS -4. THAT'S A 15-DEGREE DIFFERENCE. AND WATER COMPANIES TELL ME THAT IT'S THAT RAPID RISE FROM BELOW ZERO TEMPERATURES TO WELL ABOVE ZERO THAT'S CAUSED THE PIPES TO CRACK. LEAKS AND BROKEN PIPES BURSTING IN RECORD NUMBERS. THE REACTION HAS ACTUALLY BEEN UNPRECEDENTED. WE'VE SEEN A HUGE INCREASE, ABOUT 500 MILLION LITRES OF EXTRA WATER HAS BEEN PUMPED INTO THE SYSTEM. CLOSING SCHOOLS AND STOPPING PRODUCTION AT THE JAGUAR-LAND ROVER FACTORY IN WEST MIDLANDS. WHILE THE SNOW STOPPED FALLING IN THE HILLS OF NORTHERN ENGLAND DAYS AGO, COMMUNITIES ARE STILL CUT OFF. THE ARMY'S BEEN BRINGING IN SUPPLIES, INCLUDING MUCH NEEDED FIREWOOD. THE SUDDEN TEMPERATURE DROP ALSO KILLING MILLIONS OF SEA CREATURES. MOTHER NATURE CAN DO. FOR SUE, THOUGH, SHE'S HOPING TOMORROW WILL TAKE A TURN FOR THE BETTER. JOY REID, 1 NEWS, LONDON. BACK HERE NOW. AND ACT LEADER DAVID SEYMOUR SAYS HIS VOLUNTARY EUTHANASIA BILL CONTAINS PROVISIONS TO KEEP VULNERABLE PEOPLE SAFE. TODAY IS THE LAST CHANCE TO HAVE YOUR SAY ON THE PROPOSED LEGISLATION, WHICH WOULD LEGALISE PHYSICIAN-ASSISTED DYING FOR TERMINALLY ILL PATIENTS OR THOSE WITH AN IRREVERSIBLE, WORSENING CONDITION THAT MAKES LIFE UNBEARABLE. THIS IS ABOUT PEOPLE THAT ARE OVER 18, WHO ARE VERY ILL, WHO ARE MENTALLY COMPETENT GOING THROUGH A HIGHLY SAFEGUARDED LEGAL PROCESS, SIGNED OFF BY THE ATTORNEY GENERAL, AS CONSISTENT WITH THE BILL OF RIGHTS ACT, GETTING TO DECIDE HOW THEY GO AND WHEN THEY GO. A WOMAN IS MISSING ON MOUNT TE AROHA IN THE KAIMAI RANGES IN EASTERN WAIKATO AFTER SHE WANDERED OFF A TRACK WHILE TRAMPING. THE 52-YEAR-OLD PHONED FOR HELP YESTERDAY EVENING AFTER REALISING SHE'D GOT LOST. SEARCH AND RESCUE TEAMS WERE ABLE TO SPEAK TO THE WOMAN ON HER CELL PHONE UNTIL LATE LAST NIGHT, BUT HAVE SINCE LOST CONTACT WITH HER. MORE SEARCHERS ENTERED THE BUSH TO CONTINUE LOOKING FOR HER THIS MORNING. IT'S A FAMILY AFFAIR FOR THE PRIME MINISTER, AS SHE ARRIVED IN NIUE ON HER WEEK-LONG TOUR OF THE PACIFIC ISLANDS TODAY. SHE WAS GREETED BY THE NEW ZEALAND HIGH COMMISSIONER TO NIUE ` HER FATHER ROSS ARDERN. ALSO PART OF THE WELCOMING PARTY WERE HER MOTHER, SISTER, NIECE AND PREMIER SIR TOKE TALAGI. MS ARDERN SAID THE ISLAND FEELS LIKE A SECOND HOME. I'VE SOMETIMES BEEN CALLED THE DAUGHTER OF NIUE. (CHEERING) SO I HOPE YOU DON'T MIND THAT I'VE TAKEN IN, I'VE OWNED THAT TITLE. I KNEW WHEN I STARTING HEARING IT SAID TO ME BY THE NIUEAN COMMUNITY IN AUCKLAND, IT HAD SPREAD. I HOPE IT HAS YOUR BLESSING, PREMIER, BUT I FEEL HONOURED TO EVEN BE CALLED THAT IN PASSING. THE PRIME MINISTER WILL VISIT THE COOK ISLANDS AND TONGA LATER THIS WEEK. NEW RESEARCH INTO PRE-HISTORIC GLOBAL WARMING COULD GIVE SCIENTISTS A BETTER UNDERSTANDING OF HOW OXYGEN DEPLETION IN OUR OCEANS MAY AFFECT US IN THE FUTURE. THE UNIVERSITY OF OTAGO-LED STUDY LOOKED 94 MILLION YEARS INTO THE PAST, AND FOUND HIGH ATMOSPHERIC CARBON-DIOXIDE LEVELS WHICH WARMED THE EARTH AND ITS OCEANS MEANT LESS OXYGEN COULD DISSOLVE INTO THE WATER. THIS CAUSED A SEVERE IMPACT ON MARINE LIFE, LASTING AROUND 1 MILLION YEARS. THE RESEARCH WILL HELP SCIENTISTS BETTER UNDERSTAND THE LASTING IMPACT OF MODERN DAY GLOBAL WARMING. TODAY'S THE LAST DAY TO COMPLETE THE CENSUS, WITH 1.2 MILLION KIWIS SUBMITTING THEIR FORMS SO FAR. ALTHOUGH PAPER COPIES CAN BE REQUESTED, PEOPLE ARE BEING URGED TO COMPLETE THE FORM ONLINE THIS YEAR. BUT CHARITY AGE CONCERN SAYS THIS ISOLATES THE ELDERLY COMMUNITY, AND WILL NOT REFLECT AN ACCURATE PICTURE OF THE POPULATION. STILL TO COME ON MIDDAY ` DRAMA AT THE OSCARS... BUT NOT ON THE STAGE, AS ONE OF THE FAMOUS STATUES GOES MISSING AT THE AFTER PARTY. CHAMPION CYCLIST SIR BRADLEY WIGGINS HITS BACK AT CLAIMS HE 'CROSSED THE ETHICAL LINE' FOLLOWING A REPORT INTO SUSPECTED DOPING. AND A SEMI-FINAL HEARTBREAK FOR THE BREAKERS, AS A LEGEND IS BID FAREWELL. It's only a little bit over, mate. It's always just a little bit... until you're on the receiving end. One times gold-coloured necklace and pendant. She was alive when I got there. Maybe they'll find a few less K's would've saved her. Imagine having that on your shoulders. (ALARM BEEPS) Everyone thinks they drive well. (HELICOPTER WHIRRS OVERHEAD, INDISTINCT POLICE COMMS) But I've never seen anyone crash well. (WOMAN CRIES) FEMALE OFFICER: Is there anyone we can call for you, Mrs Woolford? (SOBS) MAN: Well, this speed's fine along here. I know these roads. I know these roads pretty well too. And I'm doing everything in my power to stop you from seeing the things I've seen on them. Can I see your driver's licence, thank you? THE ACADEMY AWARDS IS ALWAYS A NIGHT TO REMEMBER. BUT FOR ONE MAN IT WAS FOR ALL THE WRONG REASONS, AFTER HE WAS ARRESTED FOR STEALING AN OSCAR. TERRY BRYANT FACES GRAND THEFT CHARGES AFTER POSTING A VIDEO OF HIMSELF IN A TUXEDO AT THE OFFICIAL AFTER PARTY HOLDING FRANCES MCDORMAND'S BEST ACTRESS OSCAR AND TELLING OTHER GUESTS HE WAS THE WINNER. LOOK IT, BABY. GOT THIS TONIGHT. THIS IS MINE! WE GOT IT TONIGHT, BABY. (SMOOCHES) THE OSCAR WAS LATER RETURNED TO MS MCDORMAND, WHO WON IT FOR HER ROLE IN 'THREE BILLBOARDS OUTSIDE EBBING MISSOURI'. TO SPORTS NEWS NOW, AND BRITISH CYCLIST SIR BRADLEY WIGGINS SAYS HE DID NOT CHEAT, AFTER HE WAS ACCUSED OF USING MEDICAL TREATMENTS TO ENHANCE HIS PERFORMANCE. IN A DAMNING REPORT INTO DOPING IN SPORT, BRITISH MPS SAY THE TOUR DE FRANCE WINNER AND HIS FORMER EMPLOYER TEAM SKY CROSSED AN ETHICAL LINE BY USING POWERFUL ASTHMA DRUGS. THE BBC'S RICHARD CONWAY REPORTS. HE'S A SPORTING ICON, A TOUR DE FRANCE WINNER AND BRITAIN'S MOST DECORATED OLYMPIAN. BUT A DAMNING REPORT HAS ACCUSED SIR BRADLEY WIGGINS OF UNETHICAL BEHAVIOUR OVER HIS USE OF DRUGS THAT MPS SAY WERE TAKEN TO BOOST PERFORMANCE AND NOT JUST FOR MEDICAL NEED. AS WE MAKE ABSOLUTELY CLEAR, THIS IS NOT A BREACH OF THE RULES. THIS IS A QUESTION OF WHETHER IT CROSSED THE ETHICAL LINE CREATED FOR THE TEAM. LOOKING AT THE EVIDENCE OTHER PEOPLE HAVE TAKEN, THE USE OF THIS MEDICATION, WHICH IS A MATTER OF PUBLIC RECORD THAT HE TOOK THAT MEDICINE, BOTH IN AND OUT OF COMPETITION, CAN BE USED TO ENHANCE PERFORMANCE, AND THEY BELIEVE THAT'S WHY IT WAS BEING TAKEN. THAT'S THE EVIDENCE WE RECEIVED. MPS SAY THAT WIGGINS AND TEAM SKY USED TRIAMCINOLONE, AN ANTI-INFLAMMATORY STEROID THAT CAN HAVE LEGITIMATE MEDICAL USE, BUT IT CAN ALSO HELP CYCLISTS SHED WEIGHT WHILST CRUCIALLY MAINTAINING PEDAL POWER. THE REPORT ALSO BRINGS INTO QUESTION THE CREDIBILITY OF THE TEAM'S FOUNDER, SIR DAVE BRAILSFORD, WHO LAUNCHED TEAM SKY WITH AN AMBITION TO BE SEEN AS WHITER THAN WHITE. BRAILSFORD AND TEAM SKY STRONGLY DENY USING DRUGS FOR A COMPETITIVE ADVANTAGE, AS DOES WIGGINS, WHO SAID TODAY... THE DETAILS IN THIS REPORT CAME ABOUT AFTER MPS HEARD EVIDENCE HERE AT WESTMINSTER, BUT THE SHOCKWAVES HAVE SPREAD FAR AND WIDE INTO THE WORLD OF CYCLING AND SO TO INTO ATHLETICS. THERE WAS CRITICISM FOR UK ATHLETICS OVER POOR RECORD KEEPING REGARDING AN INJECTION OF AN ILLEGAL SUBSTANCE GIVEN TO SIR MO FARAH. BUT MPS WENT FURTHER WITH LORD COE, THE PRESIDENT OF ATHLETICS WORLD GOVERNING BODY, IAAF, SAYING HE PROVIDED MISLEADING ANSWERS OVER WHEN HE FIRST KNEW ABOUT CORRUPTION AND DOPING ALLEGATIONS WITH RUSSIAN ATHLETES. I WAS CERTAINLY NOT AWARE OF THE SPECIFIC ALLEGATIONS THAT HAD BEEN MADE AROUND THE CORRUPTION OF ANTI-DOPING PROCESSES. LORD COE HAS DENIED THERE'S ANY DISCREPANCY BETWEEN HIS EVIDENCE AND WHAT EMAILS SAY HE KNEW. WHILE THE IAAF HAS POINTED TO WHAT IT CALLS RECENT SWEEPING REFORMS TO THE GOVERNANCE OF THE SPORT. ELITE SPORT HAS ALWAYS BEEN JUDGED BY THE FINEST OF MARGINS. IT SEEMS ITS ETHICAL MARGINS ARE EVEN SMALLER. AND SIR BRADLEY WIGGINS HAS SPOKEN TO THE BBC, AND SAYS THE ALLEGATIONS CONTAINED IN THE REPORT HAVE MADE HIS LIFE A LIVING HELL. AS I'VE SAID BEFORE, I HAD A MEDICAL CONDITION THAT I WENT TO A DOCTOR. THIS HAS BEEN TREATED SINCE BACK IN 2003, WHEN I WAS DIAGNOSED WITH IT, THROUGH THE DOCTORS AT BRITISH CYCLING AT THE TIME. THIS WAS THE TREATMENT THAT I'D BEEN PRESCRIBED FOR THAT PARTICULAR OCCASION, WHICH WAS, WHAT ` SEVEN YEARS AGO NOW, AND UNDER SPECIALIST SUPERVISION AS WELL, AND IN PLACE OF THE RULES OF THAT TIME, WHICH WERE THAT YOU WERE ALLOWED TO APPLY FOR USE OF THIS MEDICATION. TRYING TO BE IN RETIREMENT AND DO OTHER THINGS IN MY LIFE AND I'M HAVING TO` JUST THE EFFECT IT'S HAD ` THE WIDESPREAD EFFECT ON THE FAMILY ` IT'S JUST HORRIFIC. I DON'T KNOW HOW I'M GOING TO PICK THE PIECES UP WITH THE KIDS AND STUFF. I'M LEFT TO DO THAT, AS WELL AND TRY AND SALVAGE MY REPUTATION FROM THIS. I WOULDN'T WISH IT UPON ANYONE. THE BREAKERS' HARD FOUGHT SEASON HAS COME TO A DISAPPOINTING END AFTER THEY WERE EDGED IN OVERTIME BY MELBOURNE UNITED. WITH THE SCORES TIED AT 78-78 IN REGULAR TIME, BOTH SIDES LOOKED TO TAKE OUT THE CLOSELY-FOUGHT CLASH IN THE EXTRA PERIOD. IT THEN TOOK A REMARKABLE PIECE OF PLAY TO BREAK THE HOME SIDE'S HEARTS. IS IT THIS TIME? HE JUGGLES IT! HE GETS THE POINT BACK! JOSH BOONE, AFTER THE BLOCKED SHOT, WINS THE GAME FOR MELBOURNE. UNITED TAKING HOME THE SEMI-FINAL SERIES WITH THE 88-86 WIN, LEADING TO KIRK PENNEY'S FINAL MATCH IN A BREAKERS SINGLET. I THOUGHT WE HAD A SHOT. IT'S BEEN A HELL OF A RUN AND WE'RE A LITTLE UNLUCKY TONIGHT, BUT, UH... (WOMAN CHEERS) (CROWD CHEERS) I COULDN'T ASK TO GO OUT WITH A BETTER GROUP OF GUYS. SO THANK YOU ADN THANKS TO MY FAM, I KNOW YOU'RE HERE. LOVE YOU GUYS. THE SIDE UNABLE TO GIVE RETIRING GUARD THE PERFECT SEND OFF, BUT DID MANAGE TO FAREWELL THE VETERAN WITH A EMOTIONAL HAKA. NEW ZEALAND'S COMMONWEALTH GAMES CHEF DE MISSION, ROB WADDEL, HAS HIGH HOPES OF STRONG KIWI PERFORMANCES ON THE GOLD COAST. WADDLE BELIEVES THERE ARE POSITIVE SIGNS OFF THE BACK OF SHOT PUTTER TOM WALSH AND POLE VAULTER ELIZA MCCARTNEY'S ACHIEVEMENTS AT THE WORLD INDOOR ATHLETICS CHAMPIONSHIPS. YEAH, SHAPING UP WELL. I MEAN, AN OUTSTANDING THROW FROM TOM. IT WAS INCREDIBLE. YEAH. HE'S JUST GOING UP AND UP. AND I GUESS WITH ALL ATHLETES COMING TO THE COMM GAMES, THEY'RE SORT OF TIMING THINGS DIFFERENTLY AROUND THEIR OWN PREPARATIONS. SO ELIZA'S FOURTH WAS GREAT, AND SHE'LL BE HOPING TO DO GREAT THINGS AT THE COMM GAMES TOO. THE GAMES START ON APRIL FOURTH. A STUNNING STRIKE IN STOPPAGE TIME HAS SEEN MANCHESTER UNITED PULL OFF A REMARKABLE COME BACK TO BEAT CRYSTAL PALACE 3-2 IN THE PREMIER LEAGUE. UNITED STRUGGLED AGAINST PALACE FOR MOST OF THE MATCH, FINDING THEMSELVES TWO GOALS DOWN BEFORE THEY LAUNCHED AN EPIC FIGHT BACK. PUTS IT BACK IN. AND IT'S HEADED IN. SANCHEZ. OH, IT LIFTS ON TO THE BAR. COMES OUT. HE'S SHOT THROUGH, AND HAS DONE. THEY'RE BACK AT 2-2. THE RED DEVILS THEN SECURED THE THREE POINTS WITH ONE OF THE MOST SPECTACULAR GOALS OF THE SEASON. MACARTHUR. OH, WHAT A GOAL! HE'S WON IT FOR MANCHESTER UNITED WITH HIS FIRST GOAL FOR THE CLUB. THE WIN SEES MANCHESTER UNITED LEAPFROG RIVALS LIVERPOOL TO GO SECOND ON THE LEAGUE TABLE. AND IF THE WELLINGTON PHOENIX'S SEASON COULDN'T GET ANY WORSE, THEIR COACH HAS NOW LEFT THE SIDE BEFORE THE SEASON'S EVEN FINISHED. DARIJE KALEZIC HAS STEPPED DOWN AS MANAGER OF THE A LEAGUE'S BOTTOM SIDE WITH SIX MATCHES STILL TO PLAY. ASSISTANT COACH CHRIS GREENACRE WILL TEMPORARILY TAKE OVER FOR THE REST OF THE CAMPAIGN. THE WHITE FERNS ARE SET TO RECEIVE A BOOST WITH THE INCORPORATION OF FORMER BLACKCAP JACOB ORAM AS BOWLING COACH. THE 229 CAPPED ALL ROUNDER JOINS THE NEW ZEALAND WOMEN'S SIDE ON AN 18-MONTH CONTRACT, WHILE MATT BELL WILL CONTINUE AS THE BATTING COACH UNTIL NEXT YEAR. THE VETERAN HAS ALSO WORKED WITH THE TEAM BEFORE AND WILL LOOK TO GUIDE THE WHITE FERNS TO GLORY AT NOVEMBER'S T20 WORLD CUP. STILL TO COME ON MIDDAY ` RAIN IS COMING. I'LL TELL YOU WHICH PLACES CAN EXPECT IT. WEATHER'S NEXT. TIME NOW TO TAKE A LOOK AT TODAY'S WEATHER. THANKS FOR YOUR COMPANY. FROM THE 1 NEWS MIDDAY TEAM, GOOD AFTERNOON. THANKS FOR YOUR COMPANY. FROM THE 1 NEWS MIDDAY TEAM, GOOD AFTERNOON. CAPTIONS BY STARSHA SAMARASINGHE AND ANTONY VLUG. CAPTIONS WERE MADE WITH THE SUPPORT OF NZ ON AIR.