Team Sky Principal Dave Brailsford spoke publicly in response to the crisis engulfing British Cycling and "gave at least one clue as to how the organisation will attempt to defend itself from accusations of systemic sexism and bullying," according to Steve Douglas of the LONDON TIMES.
Brailsford argued that "the outstanding success enjoyed by male and female cyclists could not have been achieved if there was a bullying culture and said that the reliance on Steve Peters, the renowned forensic psychiatrist, in the build up to 2012 proved that athletes’ mental wellbeing was paramount." Brailsford said, "You can’t get performance on a continuous basis over a long period of time through fear. I just don’t believe it. The British Cycling model wasn’t based around motivation through fear or performance through fear."
An independent review into the “fundamental behavioral issues” was commissioned by UK Sport and British Cycling "after allegations made specifically against Shane Sutton, who succeeded Brailsford, and the organisation in general" (LONDON TIMES, 5/4).
'SOONER OR LATER': REUTERS' Cecile Mantovani wrote "cheats will not prosper was the message" of Int'l Cycling Union (UCI) President Brian Cookson "as the governing body stepped up its fight against mechanical fraud by showcasing a new method to detect hidden motors in bikes." Cookson said that "the technology will help them root out cheats."
Cookson:
"So the message that I want to give out to anyone who is considering cheating in this way is that we will find a way and we will catch you sooner or later and the chances are, it will be sooner" (REUTERS, 5/4).