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British Cycling upholds Jessica Varnish’s allegation of discrimination against Shane SuttonShane Sutton (picture source Team Sky 2013).jpg

British Cycling upholds Jessica Varnish’s allegation of discrimination against Shane Sutton

Governing body expresses ‘sincere regret that this happened’
by Alex Bowden
Fri, Oct 28, 2016 17:34
9

British Cycling has upheld Jessica Varnish’s complaint of “inappropriate and discriminatory language” against former British Cycling technical director Shane Sutton following an internal investigation. A broader UK Sport investigation into allegations of sexism and discrimination within British Cycling’s World Class Programme is still ongoing.

Varnish alleged that Sutton had told her to ‘go and have a baby’ when she was dropped from the Olympic programme in April. Her sexism claims were subsequently backed up by other riders, including Victoria Pendleton.

Sutton had earlier in the week expressed confidence that he would be cleared. However, The Guardian reports a statement from British Cycling as saying:

“Following an internal investigation, the British Cycling board has upheld an allegation made by Jess Varnish that former technical director Shane Sutton had used inappropriate and discriminatory language. The board wishes to put on record its sincere regret that this happened.”

The statement also said that the full text of the board’s report had been made available for UK Sport’s independent review.

The statement added: “The findings of the investigation will help the development of the organisation alongside the independent review into the culture of the world class programme, jointly commissioned by British Cycling and UK Sport, and led by Annamarie Phelps.”

The governing body said that no further comment would be made on the matter until after the independent review.

British Cycling
Shane Sutton
UK Sport
Jessica Varnish
Alex Bowden

Alex has written for more cricket publications than the rest of the road.cc team combined. Despite the apparent evidence of this picture, he doesn't especially like cake.

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9 comments

Avatar
Jimnm | 8 years ago
0 likes

It was a forgone conclusion that British cycling would uphold JV's allegations.

The fact is that her performance was declining, SS made a decicision not to have her on the team and words were exchanged. SS's error was his choice of words. It's a shame but shit happens. JV won and SS lost.

 

Avatar
Legin replied to Jimnm | 8 years ago
4 likes
Jimnm wrote:

It was a forgone conclusion that British cycling would uphold JV's allegations.

The fact is that her performance was declining, SS made a decicision not to have her on the team and words were exchanged. SS's error was his choice of words. It's a shame but shit happens. JV won and SS lost.

 

What facts are those; the same ones they couldn't share with Jess to prove their case? It is unacceptable to dump an elite athlete out of their job with no warning and no justification given.... but it was two weeks after she criticised the management!

Avatar
Jimnm replied to Legin | 8 years ago
0 likes

Legin wrote:
Jimnm wrote:

It was a forgone conclusion that British cycling would uphold JV's allegations.

The fact is that her performance was declining, SS made a decicision not to have her on the team and words were exchanged. SS's error was his choice of words. It's a shame but shit happens. JV won and SS lost.

 

What facts are those; the same ones they couldn't share with Jess to prove their case? It is unacceptable to dump an elite athlete out of their job with no warning and no justification given.... but it was two weeks after she criticised the management!

Loyalty and team work is essential for success, critisizing management is like shooting yourself in the foot. On the other hand constructive criticism is beneficial to success. To determine wether she was being constructive in her criticism or just being descentful remains to be seen. One bad apple can spoil the barrel. 

Your comment 'elite athelete' seems exaggerated. No i in team sunshine.

Avatar
Legin replied to Jimnm | 8 years ago
2 likes
Jimnm wrote:

Legin wrote:
Jimnm wrote:

It was a forgone conclusion that British cycling would uphold JV's allegations.

The fact is that her performance was declining, SS made a decicision not to have her on the team and words were exchanged. SS's error was his choice of words. It's a shame but shit happens. JV won and SS lost.

 

What facts are those; the same ones they couldn't share with Jess to prove their case? It is unacceptable to dump an elite athlete out of their job with no warning and no justification given.... but it was two weeks after she criticised the management!

Loyalty and team work is essential for success, critisizing management is like shooting yourself in the foot. On the other hand constructive criticism is beneficial to success. To determine wether she was being constructive in her criticism or just being descentful remains to be seen. One bad apple can spoil the barrel. 

Your comment 'elite athelete' seems exaggerated. No i in team sunshine.

I think you'll find the bad apple resigned in April. There should be no room for bullying and discriminatory behaviour in any organisation. I don't recall Varnish being the one under investigation here; a few people including yourself seem to have missed that point. At no time has Varnish being accused of not being a team player or a bad apple. She was on the program from the age of 14 and yes I consider someone who's result qualified Team GB for Women's sprint places in Rio an "Elite Athlete" I'm surprised you don't.

Avatar
Jimnm replied to Legin | 8 years ago
0 likes

Legin wrote:
Jimnm wrote:

Legin wrote:
Jimnm wrote:

It was a forgone conclusion that British cycling would uphold JV's allegations.

The fact is that her performance was declining, SS made a decicision not to have her on the team and words were exchanged. SS's error was his choice of words. It's a shame but shit happens. JV won and SS lost.

 

What facts are those; the same ones they couldn't share with Jess to prove their case? It is unacceptable to dump an elite athlete out of their job with no warning and no justification given.... but it was two weeks after she criticised the management!

Loyalty and team work is essential for success, critisizing management is like shooting yourself in the foot. On the other hand constructive criticism is beneficial to success. To determine wether she was being constructive in her criticism or just being descentful remains to be seen. One bad apple can spoil the barrel. 

Your comment 'elite athelete' seems exaggerated. No i in team sunshine.

I think you'll find the bad apple resigned in April. There should be no room for bullying and discriminatory behaviour in any organisation. I don't recall Varnish being the one under investigation here; a few people including yourself seem to have missed that point. At no time has Varnish being accused of not being a team player or a bad apple. She was on the program from the age of 14 and yes I consider someone who's result qualified Team GB for Women's sprint places in Rio an "Elite Athlete" I'm surprised you don't.

I suppose it's just a difference of opinion, I have the old school values (similar to SS) your only as good as your last race or training session.  No emotion, just black or white,  if your not meeting the required standards then it bye bye. SS slipped up and didn't drop her in a professional manner. At the end of the day she beat the boss regardless of our opinions. 

I have no malice against either of them, including your good self. I enjoyed our little debate legin   3 

Avatar
Alb replied to Jimnm | 8 years ago
0 likes

Jimnm wrote:

Legin wrote:
Jimnm wrote:

Legin wrote:
Jimnm wrote:

It was a forgone conclusion that British cycling would uphold JV's allegations.

The fact is that her performance was declining, SS made a decicision not to have her on the team and words were exchanged. SS's error was his choice of words. It's a shame but shit happens. JV won and SS lost.

 

What facts are those; the same ones they couldn't share with Jess to prove their case? It is unacceptable to dump an elite athlete out of their job with no warning and no justification given.... but it was two weeks after she criticised the management!

Loyalty and team work is essential for success, critisizing management is like shooting yourself in the foot. On the other hand constructive criticism is beneficial to success. To determine wether she was being constructive in her criticism or just being descentful remains to be seen. One bad apple can spoil the barrel. 

Your comment 'elite athelete' seems exaggerated. No i in team sunshine.

I think you'll find the bad apple resigned in April. There should be no room for bullying and discriminatory behaviour in any organisation. I don't recall Varnish being the one under investigation here; a few people including yourself seem to have missed that point. At no time has Varnish being accused of not being a team player or a bad apple. She was on the program from the age of 14 and yes I consider someone who's result qualified Team GB for Women's sprint places in Rio an "Elite Athlete" I'm surprised you don't.

I suppose it's just a difference of opinion, I have the old school values (similar to SS) your only as good as your last race or training session.  No emotion, just black or white,  if your not meeting the required standards then it bye bye. SS slipped up and didn't drop her in a professional manner. At the end of the day she beat the boss regardless of our opinions. 

I have no malice against either of them, including your good self. I enjoyed our little debate legin   3 

 

TBH it's all jut speculation isn't it? We've abosolutely no idea what's gone @BC. 

Avatar
Jimnm replied to Alb | 8 years ago
0 likes

Alb wrote:

Jimnm wrote:

Legin wrote:
Jimnm wrote:

Legin wrote:
Jimnm wrote:

It was a forgone conclusion that British cycling would uphold JV's allegations.

The fact is that her performance was declining, SS made a decicision not to have her on the team and words were exchanged. SS's error was his choice of words. It's a shame but shit happens. JV won and SS lost.

 

What facts are those; the same ones they couldn't share with Jess to prove their case? It is unacceptable to dump an elite athlete out of their job with no warning and no justification given.... but it was two weeks after she criticised the management!

Loyalty and team work is essential for success, critisizing management is like shooting yourself in the foot. On the other hand constructive criticism is beneficial to success. To determine wether she was being constructive in her criticism or just being descentful remains to be seen. One bad apple can spoil the barrel. 

Your comment 'elite athelete' seems exaggerated. No i in team sunshine.

I think you'll find the bad apple resigned in April. There should be no room for bullying and discriminatory behaviour in any organisation. I don't recall Varnish being the one under investigation here; a few people including yourself seem to have missed that point. At no time has Varnish being accused of not being a team player or a bad apple. She was on the program from the age of 14 and yes I consider someone who's result qualified Team GB for Women's sprint places in Rio an "Elite Athlete" I'm surprised you don't.

I suppose it's just a difference of opinion, I have the old school values (similar to SS) your only as good as your last race or training session.  No emotion, just black or white,  if your not meeting the required standards then it bye bye. SS slipped up and didn't drop her in a professional manner. At the end of the day she beat the boss regardless of our opinions. 

I have no malice against either of them, including your good self. I enjoyed our little debate legin   3 

 

TBH it's all jut speculation isn't it? We've abosolutely no idea what's gone @BC. 

I concur, we won't get access to the minutes of the hearing.

Avatar
beezus fufoon replied to Jimnm | 8 years ago
0 likes

Jimnm wrote:

No i in team sunshine.

team sunshne?

Avatar
Alb | 8 years ago
0 likes

Opps. Guessing this article last week didn't help his cause. What a plonker! laugh

http://road.cc/content/news/208961-shane-sutton-im-confident-ill-be-invi...

 

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