UK Sport has instructed British Cycling "to investigate claims that equipment has been made for sale on auction websites," according to Matt McGeehan of the PA. British Cycling personnel "are understood to have met on Tuesday morning to address claims" that high-performance kit, including skinsuits and bikes worth in the region of £10,000 ($14,600), "have been made available for sale to the highest bidder." The claims were made in the week Shane Sutton resigned as technical director "following allegations of discrimination towards Jess Varnish and para-cycling riders." Sutton denies the allegations "and will take part in an independent review set up by British Cycling and UK Sport." A statement from UK Sport read, "UK Sport has asked British Cycling to investigate these allegations as a matter of urgency as it is vital we protect our investment in all sports on the world-class programme" (PA, 4/28). The BBC reported UK Sport helps fund Britain's Olympians and Paralympians and is investing £30.5M ($44.5M) in British Cycling between '13 and '17. It issued a statement, explaining that it would not be "appropriate to speculate or comment further until the investigation is completed." British Cycling Program Dir Andy Harrison "will take over Sutton's responsibilities as British cyclists look to continue their success in the velodrome and on the road." Despite leaving his post at British Cycling, Sutton is still employed by Team Sky in a paid "occasional advisory role" (BBC, 4/28). In London, Martha Kelner reported one Olympic hopeful "remarked that even with the Games so close it was worth being without a head coach whose reign had become poisonous." Another British Cycling insider said, "Absolutely 100 percent there was a culture of fear for years. He was such a manipulative, nasty man and a bully. He’d bully somebody and put his arm round them the next second and that’s how he got his allies, because they were so scared of being bullied again." Sutton "is receiving a retainer worth thousands of pounds a month from Team Sky, despite having stepped down" as its head coach in '13. A Team Sky spokesperson said, "Shane has maintained an involvement in the team since stepping down as head coach in January 2013. We do not release details of the salaries of anyone employed by, or previously employed by, Team Sky." More riders and staff members, past and present, "are now coming forward to tell their stories, although others have come out in strong support of Sutton." Olympic Gold Medalist Geraint Thomas said, "I would like to talk about my personal experience and say that Shane is one of the main reasons I am where I am today. He has always wanted the best for British riders and gone the extra mile for us" (DAILY MAIL, 4/27).
'CULTURE OF FEAR': REUTERS' Martyn Herman reported Varnish said at the heart of British Cycling's "slick exterior" was a "culture of fear." Others have come out in support of the 25-year-old, including Olympic champions Victoria Pendleton and Nicole Cooke. Pendleton: "I know exactly how miserable they made me." Others within the team "have leapt" to Sutton's defense. Olympic champion Laura Trott described her dealings with Sutton as "wholly positive" (REUTERS, 4/28).
