Shane Sutton to resign: British Cycling technical director steps down amid allegations of sexism and discrimination

Sutton has been accused of making sexist remarks to spinter Jess Varnish as well as calling Paralympic cyclists 'gimps'

Shane Sutton had a key coaching role at Team Sky from 2010-13 (Getty)

British Cycling technical director Shane Sutton has resigned from his role with the national governing body, exactly 100 days before the start of the 2016 Rio Olympics, it has been confirmed.

Sutton is being investigated for alleged discriminatory and sexist comments made about Team GB cyclists, with Jess Varnish triggering a wave of allegations against the Australian coach after alleging Sutton told her to “go and have a baby”, having been cut from British Cycling’s elite performance programme.

Sutton has denied making the comments to Varnish when she came to collect her belongings from British Cycling’s training base, but fresh accusations against Sutton appeared in the media on Tuesday night that led to him being suspended – just two hours after an independent review was announced to onvestigate the podium programme and the allegations against Sutton.

A statement, released by Sutton on www.britishcycling.org.uk, read: “Today starts the 100-day countdown to the Olympic and Paralympic Games. It is absolutely crucial that, as our athletes begin their final preparations for Rio, they are able to do so free of distraction.

“The developments over the past few days have clearly become a distraction. It is for this reason, and having spoken to friends and family, that I believe it is in the best interests of British Cycling for me to step down from my position as technical director.”

Sutton added that he still completely denies the allegations made against him, and will assist the investigation into British Cycling where possible.

“It is important that the review announced by British Cycling and UK Sport now takes place, and I will obviously co-operate fully with this,” Sutton added. “I have made clear that I reject the specific claims that have been made against me in recent days, and I look forward to taking a full part in the review process so I can respond to the allegations in detail.

“Cycling is my passion and I have always worked to get the very best out of professional athletes. I am proud of what British Cycling has achieved and I am excited by the potential of the team for Rio. They will always have my full support.”

Sutton's resignation leaves British Cycling without a leading official little over three months before the start of Rio 2016, and comes on the same day that he received support from current athletes Laura Trott, Geraint Thomas and Ben Swift.

A report in the Daily Mail claimed that Sutton had used the derogatory term “gimps” to describe Paralympic cyclists as well as calling some members of Team GB "wobblies", with ten-time Paralympic medallist Darren Kenny saying: "The attitude towards them [Paralympic cyclists] was abysmal. We were tolerated at best. The term used to refer to us was generally ‘gimps’, with another word in front of that."

A fresh statement, given to the BBC two hours after British Cycling’s original one, read: "Following the announcement of an independent review into British Cycling's performance programmes, we are also announcing technical director Shane Sutton has been suspended pending an internal investigation into the allegations of discrimination that have been reported in the press."

Laura Trott supported Shane Sutton though refused to comment on allegations against him (Getty)

25-year-old Varnish alleges that Sutton told her she was “too old” to compete and that she should “move on and go and have a baby”. Sutton released a statement to deny those allegations, although Varnish received support from her former team-mates and Olympic champions Victoria Pendleton and Nicole Cooke.

British Cycling initially released a statement to confirm the review, which read: "British Cycling is announcing the formation of an independent review, in conjunction with UK Sport, of the federation's performance programmes following allegations of discriminatory behaviour.

"We are fully committed to the principles and active promotion of equality of opportunity and we must take any such allegations seriously."

Pendleton and Varnish have spoken out against British Cycling (Getty)

Speaking in an interview with The Times given before he was suspended, Sutton defended his position and denied all allegations of discriminatory behaviour.

“Someone who wasn’t up to the job has left the programme and should embrace my comments,” Sutton said. “Jess [Varnish] was not one of the greats. It’s sad she’s come out and said the things she said.”

Asked if he told her to “go and have a baby”, Sutton answered: “One hundred per cent no.

“No, there was never any talk of babies. I don’t know where that’s come from.”

British Cycling technical director Shane Sutton (Getty)

Sutton added that he encourages the review into both his position and British Cycling’s performance programme so that he can have his side of the story heard, and admits that he has also received support from Varnish’s former sprint team-mates Katy Marchant, Becky James and Vicky Williamson, with a joint text message reading: “Just want you to know we are 100 per cent behind you.”

Sutton added: “Actually I’m embracing the opportunity to actually sit in front of the panel and give my view because I don’t think I’ve been heard properly from day one of this,” he says. “I’ve had great support from everybody here but at the end of the day it’s an allegation.”

Jess Varnish was dropped by British Cycling after failing to qualify the women's team sprint for Rio 2016 (Getty)

Sutton also admitted his “astonishment” that Pendleton had spoken out against him, and used his experiences with the most successful ever British female Olympian to defend himself after she supported Varnish’s claims.

“I find it astonishing Vicky would wade in, given that on the journey [preparing for] Beijing, I’m up until 3 o’ clock in the morning decorating her house in Wilmslow,” says Sutton. “The number of times I’ve held her in my arms in the track centre when she has capitulated. I was very supportive of her. I’m a bit hurt by the allegations given my relationship with her over the years.”

Pendleton has supported Varnish's claims of a sexist culture at British Cycling (Getty)

Varnish also released a statement before Sutton’s suspension was made public, in which she stood by her allegation of what Sutton said to her and admitted she still wants to return to the velodrome to represent Great Britain.

"I feel that chance is being denied to me unfairly,” said Varnish. “I also want to change the culture at British Cycling and their treatment of women.

"The comment that Shane Sutton told me 'to go and have a baby' is true. I stand by all my statements in the Daily Mail interview and have examples of other comments made to me during my time at British Cycling by Shane Sutton dating back many years.

"At 25 years old I feel my best years are ahead of me. I also want to compete for Great Britain again. I am not too old. I am not a waste of UK Sport's money. I can win more medals."