New Zealand rugby legend Dan Carter has blamed “a monumental error of judgment” after he was caught drink-driving at almost twice the legal alcohol limit during a night out in Paris.
Police breathalysed the former All Blacks fly half in the early hours yesterday and found 0.98g of alcohol in his system for every litre of blood. France’s legal limit is 0.5g per litre.
He now faces a court process with a maximum two-year jail sentence and a fine of around £4,000, as well as six penalty points on his licence.
Carter, 34, who now plays for the Paris club Racing 92, took to social media to apologise.
He said on Facebook: “I am sure a lot of you have seen the headlines. No excuses — I made a massive error of judgment and have let down my club, my fans and most importantly my family.
“I will have to now let the police/court process run its course and face the consequences. I am just glad no one was harmed. Sorry.”
Carter, who won the World Cup twice with New Zealand, lives in Paris with his hockey player wife, Honor Carter, 34, and their two sons.
A Paris police source said Carter was not arrested following his failure to pass the breath test, and had co-operated in full.
Carter was at the centre of a drugs inquiry in France last year after testing positive for corticosteroids after the Top 14 final last season.
He and fellow former All Black Joe Rokocoko and Argentinian winger Juan Imhoff all said they were “disgusted” by the charge.
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They were later cleared of any wrongdoing by the French Rugby Federation, which said corticosteroids were legally used under the Therapeutic Use Exemption rules to aid injury recovery.
But the players were then summoned to appear before the French Anti-Doping Agency (AFLD).
