Shane Sutton appears before British Cycling review panel

Ex-Great Britain Cycling Team technical director has been grilled for five hours by the panel set up to conduct a review of British Cycling following the allegations of bullying and discrimination made against him earlier this year.

On Wednesday, as his former charges flew to Rio, e the 59-year-old appeared before the three-person panel in London chaired by British Rowing chair Annemarie Phelps, reports Sky Sports News.

Jess Varnish, who first raised specific allegations against the Australian after she was dropped from the Olympic programme after she and team sprint partner Katy Marchant failed to qualify for Rio in March, is reported to have already given evidence.

> Jess Varnish: British Cycling boss told me to 'go and have a baby’

Sutton, who was suspended then resigned after further accusations were made that he referred to Paralympic cyclists as “wobblies” and “gimps” said last month that he was confident that the independent review would “definitely exonerate me from all of this.”

> Sutton: Independent review will exonerate me

Victoria Pendleton, who will be in Rio commentating for the BBC, has backed her former team sprint colleague Varnish and has said the culture within British Cycling led her to retire after London 2012. She has also said she plans to provide evidence to the panel conducting the review.

> Pendleton: I could be at Rio if not for Sutton

Others due to appear before the panel reportedly include Sir Chris Hoy, Sir Bradley Wiggins and Sir Dave Brailsford.

The latter oversaw Team GB’s resounding success at Beijing in 2008 and London four years ago before relinquishing that role to focus full time on Team Sky, with Sutton stepping up to replace him.

The panel is due to report its findings later this year.