A senior coach working with Great Britain's Winter Olympic bobsleigh squad has been "accused of racism amid multiple complaints" over a "toxic atmosphere" in the sport, according to Roan & Nathanson of the BBC. Earlier this year, a host of athletes wrote anonymously to British Bobsleigh & Skeleton Association CEO Richard Parker to "share concerns over the behaviour of key performance and management staff." In confidential documents, the athletes told Parker their concerns were "of the highest order, mentioning bullying, racism, sexism and discrimination." However, the following month they were told no disciplinary action would be taken following an internal review because no "formal complaints" were made. Amid revelations that will "add to the athlete welfare crisis sweeping through British sport," and eight months before the 2018 PyeongChang Games, among individual letters sent to Parker:
- One athlete alleged experiencing "racism several times" from a senior coach, and that the coach referred to black people as "lazy" and had "a blatant dislike towards people of colour."
- Another athlete claimed there was "a racial bias in favour of caucasian males" on the performance program and "a racial stigma against black drivers."
- According to further complainants, "sexist comments are regular, there have been claims of racist remarks which all get ignored," "the culture is one of fear ... athletes are literally terrified of putting a foot wrong," and there was "dictatorship within the management" (BBC, 6/13).
