Dan Carter apologises after failing drink-driving test in Paris: 'I am just glad no one was harmed'

Former New Zealand flyhalf Dan Carter has issued an apology in response to French media reports that he failed a drink-driving test in Paris on Wednesday night.

The three-times World Player of the Year, who plays in France's Top League for the Racing club, was tested by police after being stopped in his car near the Champs Elysses in the centre of the city, reports said.

"I am sure a lot of you have seen the headlines," the 34-year-old World Cup winner wrote in a message on his official Facebook page (@dancarterallblack).

"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."

No one was immediately available for comment at Carter's management agency in Auckland on Friday.

Carter tweeted a picture of himself at the Champions League soccer match between Paris St Germain and Barcelona at the Parc des Princes on Wednesday evening.

Punishments for drink-driving in France range from an on-the-spot fine to two years in prison.

Carter, last October, welcomed the decision by the French Rugby Federation to clear him of breaching anti-doping rules, claiming he would never bring the game into disrepute.

He was cleared following an FFR investigation after a report in a French newspaper had claimed that “traces of corticosteroids” – a substance used to help reduce inflammation – had been found in tests taken by him and two team-mates, Joe Rokocoko and Juan Imhoff.

“No surprises that the FFR’s ruling was that I’d done nothing wrong,” Carter wrote.

“I hold my integrity and the game of rugby’s integrity in the highest regard. I love this game and owe so much to rugby that I would never do anything intentionally to bring it into disrepute.”