Menu
Download the app

SBJ subscribers – Enhance your experience with the revamped iOS app

Leagues and Governing Bodies

Jess Varnish Will Sue UK Sport, British Cycling For Discrimination, Unfair Dismissal

British cyclist Jess Varnish is suing UK Sport and British Cycling "for sex discrimination, detriment suffered for whistleblowing, victimisation and unfair dismissal," according to Alyson Rudd of the LONDON TIMES. In what could be a "landmark case for all publicly funded athletes," Varnish, who "controversially lost her podium funding last year," was told at a preliminary court hearing last week that she "could proceed with her claim to be regarded as having been employed by British Cycling and UK Sport and therefore owed the full legal obligations due to her as an employee." Former British Cycling Technical Dir Shane Sutton allegedly told Varnish to "go have a baby." He denied the claims but later resigned from his post. Although she was expected to take legal action against British Cycling, she has expanded her litigation to include UK Sport. A hearing has been scheduled for April to determine if the 26-year-old, who now runs a coffee shop with two fellow Olympians, Fran Halsall and Liam Phillips, "should be considered to have been employed by both governing bodies." If that is determined, the extent of any damages won would be "significantly greater and would pave the way for other athletes to expect better treatment when they bring grievances." UK Sport sought to block the legal action "by issuing a strike out order for the case to be instantly dismissed" but also submitted a costs order and a deposit order against Varnish, which the judge at the preliminary hearing found to be "overly aggressive." All three orders were rejected (LONDON TIMES, 11/10). The BBC's Dan Roan reported a source close to Varnish said, "She's not doing this for money. She's frustrated that neither UK Sport nor British Cycling have changed the gray situation that athletes still remain in. Athletes still have no real rights, no pensions, no grievance and whistleblower procedures, and no course of action, outside of civil action. There are some really deep-rooted issues which she's passionate about." A British Cycling spokesperson said that the organization was "in an ongoing and positive dialogue with Jess and look forward to reaching a resolution which all parties will regard as equitable." UK Sport said, "Because the legal process is still ongoing regarding Jess Varnish we are unable to comment on the issues mentioned at this time" (BBC, 11/10).

'INTIMIDATION' TACTICS: In London, Ben Rumsby reported U.K. Sports Minister Tracey Crouch is "facing a parliamentary grilling" over what have been branded the "intimidation" tactics used by UK Sport against Varnish in her legal action against it and British Cycling. Digital, Culture, Media & Sport Select Committee Chair Damian Collins condemned the Olympic and Paralympic funding agency's application to freeze Varnish's assets, which "would have forced her to drop her claim had it been successful." Collins said, "I think it is a form of intimidation to try to get Jess Varnish to drop the case. If UK Sport had succeeded, it would have probably been impossible for Jess Varnish to continue. It's pretty tragic that it's come to this anyway, that Jess Varnish feels that the only option she has in order to pursue her grievance is to take them to court" (TELEGRAPH, 11/10).

SBJ Morning Buzzcast: March 25, 2024

NFL meeting preview; MLB's opening week ad effort and remembering Peter Angelos.

Big Get Jay Wright, March Madness is upon us and ESPN locks up CFP

On this week’s pod, our Big Get is CBS Sports college basketball analyst Jay Wright. The NCAA Championship-winning coach shares his insight with SBJ’s Austin Karp on key hoops issues and why being well dressed is an important part of his success. Also on the show, Poynter Institute senior writer Tom Jones shares who he has up and who is down in sports media. Later, SBJ’s Ben Portnoy talks the latest on ESPN’s CFP extension and who CBS, TNT Sports and ESPN need to make deep runs in the men’s and women's NCAA basketball tournaments.

SBJ I Factor: Nana-Yaw Asamoah

SBJ I Factor features an interview with AMB Sports and Entertainment Chief Commercial Office Nana-Yaw Asamoah. Asamoah, who moved over to AMBSE last year after 14 years at the NFL, talks with SBJ’s Ben Fischer about how his role model parents and older sisters pushed him to shrive, how the power of lifelong learning fuels successful people, and why AMBSE was an opportunity he could not pass up. Asamoah is 2021 SBJ Forty Under 40 honoree. SBJ I Factor is a monthly podcast offering interviews with sports executives who have been recipients of one of the magazine’s awards.

Shareable URL copied to clipboard!

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Global/Issues/2017/11/13/Leagues-and-Governing-Bodies/Varnish-UK-Sport.aspx

Sorry, something went wrong with the copy but here is the link for you.

https://www.sportsbusinessjournal.com/Global/Issues/2017/11/13/Leagues-and-Governing-Bodies/Varnish-UK-Sport.aspx

CLOSE