British Cycling is not in crisis
despite technical director Shane Sutton having resigned amid claims of
sexism and discrimination, according to its chief executive Ian Drake.
British Cycling is investigating claims Australian Sutton, 58, used derogatory words to describe Para-cyclists.It is also holding a review after elite cyclist Jess Varnish alleged he made sexist comments towards her and
told her to "go and have a baby".
Sutton "rejects the specific claims".
Speaking to BBC sports editor Dan Roan, Drake said Sutton's resignation - and the review into the behaviour and culture of the organisation - would "hopefully" not cost the team medals at the Rio 2016 Olympics.
Sutton left his post on the day British athletes and Para-athletes marked the 100-day countdown to this summer's Games.
He said the allegations against him had "become a distraction" and he had stepped down "in the best interests of British Cycling".
Asked if his organisation was now in crisis, Drake said: "Not at all. We have to get the independent review right and there is no point having a system where people feel they are not in a supportive environment and not potentially being given a duty of care.
"We need to understand that and build a system which will continue success in the future."
Drake told BBC Sport:
- He was "very much" surprised by the allegations
- He accepts "any allegations around the system" will "damage" British Cycling
- Anyone with experiences of "completely unacceptable language or derogatory terms" should come forward
- The distraction was "potentially detrimental" but he will play a full part in the review
- A new generation of coaches has "refreshed the system"
- Inspiring people to take up cycling is more important than medalsVarnish, who was dropped from the GB team after failing to qualify
for the sprint team for Rio, said she spoke out against Sutton in order
to change attitudes at British Cycling.
Sutton, who has been a GB coach since 2002, denies the 25-year-old's claims, which include him making a sexist comment about her body shape.
He said Varnish's contract was not renewed because her times had slowed over the past three years and she was unlikely to win a medal, saying she was "not up to the job".
"There was never any talk of babies," he told The Times.
He insisted he had never used the terminology "you've got a fat arse", adding: "I'm just really upset she would say that."
British Cycling had already begun an "independent review" into its performance programmes following Varnish's comments.
On Wednesday it started a further investigation and suspended Sutton after Darren Kenny, one of Britain's most decorated Para-cyclists, told the Daily Mail he heard members of the British disability team referred to as "gimps" and "wobblies".
Kenny, who won six Paralympic gold medals, later told BBC Sport the use of the word "became common".
"I never heard the term 'wobblies' but the other term, I don't think there is anyone at British Cycling who hasn't heard it." said the 46-year-old. "It was an everyday thing."
However, Kenny also said he felt Sutton "does a good job" and was "being made a scapegoat slightly".
He claimed to have "heard other talk of other situations", adding the investigation was "not much of a surprise" because "we all know it happened time and time again".
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