Labor Senator and Olympic athlete Nova Peris says she "categorically rejects any wrongdoing" over allegations that she used taxpayers' money to bring Olympic sprinter Ato Boldon to Australia to help her carry out an extra-marital affair with him.
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The allegations in the Northern Territory News detail Boldon's visit to Australia in 2010 in the lead-up to the London Olympics.
Boldon has also labelled the allegations as "gross fabrications" and has threatened legal action over the article
The Northern Territory News claims to have obtained explicit email exchanges between Senator Peris, who at the time was an Athletics Australia ambassador and communication officer with the Australian Institute of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander Studies, and Boldon, the four-time Olympic medal winner from Trinidad and Tobago.
Senator Peris had personally selected Boldon for the 10-day "Jump Start to London" program, and she sought funding from Athletics Australia and other sources to bring him to Australia.
But the newspaper claims Senator Peris, who at the time was married to Australian sprinter Daniel Batman, exchanged emails with Boldon in which they discussed their impending affair.
Senator Peris also sent a nude photograph to the sprinter at his request, the newspaper claims
"Ato … tell me babe … what u want … Make a bit of money and spend time together … I will take time of [sic] from work to be with u," Senator Peris wrote in an email exchange, the NT News says.
Boldon responded: "Purpose is time with u plus attend trials plus help them promote the trials and possibly guest broadcast on the tv station carrying it … need hotel ticket plus 15,000 US … "
In another email on February 28, 2010, Senator Peris reportedly wrote: "You should be compensated for your long haul travels across the pacifi c.. sexually of course … but only ... a tired traveller should kick back for a few days."
In other emails, Senator Peris reportedly said she was getting the money for his trip through the "indigenous grants mob" and that he would not have to pay tax on his payment.
"Let me know babe if this is ok? I just want to do everything right for you," she reportedly wrote.
The exact amount of money Boldon received is unclear but in an email from mid-March in 2010, Senator Peris reportedly wrote that she had managed to round up $22,000 for him, on top of the money Athletics Australia paid, the newspaper said.
In one of the emails to Boldon, Senator Peris also allegedly criticises Australian Olympian Cathy Freeman.
"Like Freeman here, she is so so dumb (sad but true) and has a national profile of running fast achieving awesome things but seriously can't talk for shit, and has zero communication skills ... "
In a response to the Northern Territory News, Senator Peris said she "categorically rejects any wrongdoing".
"During his trip Mr Boldon promoted athletics, attended and promoted specific events and conducted clinics for young Indigenous athletes," she is reported to have said.
"Other organisations, including the West Australian Government, supported some events during the visit. I understand Athletics Australia was pleased with the outcome of the visit.
"The highs and lows of my athletic career – and now political career – are public.
"The highs and lows of my private life are matters for me and my family.
"Documents provided to the NT News are private. It appears they were not lawfully obtained by a third party.
"I cannot vouch for the veracity of emails I have not seen."
Boldon, who now works for ESPN and NBC Sports in the US, posted a statement on his Facebook page early on Wednesday morning disputing the "malicious representation".
"Nova Peris is a former training partner of mine, and has been a friend for almost 20 years," Boldon said.
"My last trip to Australia, almost five years ago, was for the purpose of holding several youth clinics, and it was a successful undertaking. The trip was co-organised by one of my now-deceased colleagues at Athletics Australia.
"The article recently written by the Northern Territory News, includes gross fabrications.
"I will be following the senator's lead, including, but not limited to, pursuing all legal action possible for this malicious misrepresentation of the details surrounding my presence in Australia in 2010."
Opposition Leader Bill Shorten described Senator Peris as a "great Australian" who had his full support.
"These are deeply personal matters which pre-date her entering into Parliament.
"Again, I think that Nova Peris is a very special person, an amazing Australian and she has my support."
Senator Peris replaced long-serving Northern Territory Labor Senator Trish Crossin, who was unceremoniously dumped by former prime minister Julia Gillard in January 2013.
At the time, Ms Gillard justified the controversial decision to install the now-Senator Peris as a "captain's pick".
The move came despite the objections of Labor rank-and-file members in the Northern Territory.
Contacted by Fairfax Media, Ms Crossin said she was aware of the story but issued a firm "no comment".
A spokesperson for the Northern Territory News said: "We stand by the story which deals with an issue of public importance, namely the alleged misuse of taxpayer funds. The emails, which we are satisfied are 100% legitimate, were volunteered to the NT News by a credible source."
Batman, who was divorced from Senator Peris in 2010, was killed in a car crash in 2012.
Fairfax Media
