Four-times New Zealand bowls champion David File of Gisborne faces a 10-year ban after an after-match joke backfired.
File, a former international, has appealed the ban imposed by Bowls Gisborne East Coast after he exposed himself at a tournament earlier this year.
Dismayed at the way his team were playing at the Easter Burton Cup tournament at Kahutia Bowling Club, File exposed himself in the locker room to his team.
The recollection of File and his team was that very few people witnessed the incident and those that did found it funny.
However, several people have lodged complaints, although it is unclear whether they actually witnessed the exposure.
A Bowls Gisborne East Coast judical committee heard the matter and imposed the 10-year ban. File was notified, but could not attend the hearing.
Bowls Gisborne East Coast president Robin Jefferson confirmed File had appealed the decision, and the matter would now be handled by Bowls New Zealand.
"It is out of our hands and now with Bowls New Zealand. I can't, nor would it be appropriate for me to, say anything further," Jefferson said.
No date has yet been set for the appeal to be heard.
File admitted his actions were silly, but said he could not understand why he has been punished so severely.
"I can't for the life of me see how it merits a 10-year ban," he said. "Obviously, the judicial committee thought otherwise.
"I have been around bowls a long time, so I know a bit about the game and the kind of penalties people have been given for misdemeanours.
"One player got banned for two years for assaulting someone. I just can't fathom how they figure what I did justifies a 10-year ban."
If he loses the upcoming appeal, File will not be able to play at or enter the premises of a bowls club anywhere in the country until 2020.
