The document features 12 rights and 10 responsibilities centered on topics such as anti-doping, integrity, clean sport, careers, communications, governance, discrimination, harassment and abuse.

It is claimed the declaration, due to be adopted in the Olympic Charter, was shaped by 4,292 elite athletes from 190 countries and from more than 120 sports disciplines.

The NZOC has now said it is "a positive step towards understanding and strengthening athlete welfare and rights".

The NZOC's endorsement follows a formal recommendation from the Athletes' Commission but a global athlete trade union and human rights activist group have previously urged the IOC to shelve adopting it.

The World Players Association, which claims to represent 85,000 players across professional sport through more than 100 player associations in more than 60 countries, criticised the contents of the document and claimed it "does not come close to respecting the internationally recognised human rights of athletes".

The chair of New Zealand's Athletes' Commission Nathan Twaddle said he felt the NZOC would benefit from adopting the Declaration, however.

"The Declaration is timely," he said.

"Athlete welfare and integrity are significant priorities for New Zealand sport right now.

"We have asked the New Zealand Olympic Committee to adopt the guiding principles in the declaration and to encourage National Federations as their members to do the same.

Meanwhile, the chief executive of the NZOC Kereyn Smith said they "welcome" advice and perspective from athletes.

"The New Zealand Olympic Committee Athletes' Commission has been active for 25 years and we welcome their ongoing advice and perspective," she said.

"Athletes are at the heart of our organisation and it's vital that we, together with our members, ensure we have the right policies, processes and commitments."