Tom Daley’s husband launches scathing attack on British Swimming’s ‘toxic environment’ and ‘corruption’

Dustin Lance Black posted a series of tweets criticising British Swimming after he was not allowed to attend the Divind World Series in London at the weekend with the couple's son in a buggy due to the venue’s rules

Tom Daley's husband Dustin Lance Black has accused British Swimming of 'corruption' (PA)

The husband of British Olympic diver Tom Daley has launched a scathing attack on the “toxic environment” that surrounds British Swimming after accusing the governing body of not allowing him to bring the couple’s son to Sunday’s Diving World Series in London.

Daley teamed up with partner Grace Reid to win gold in the mixed synchro competition, but the success in the pool has been overshadowed by a furious row between Daley’s husband, Dustin Lance Black, and British Swimming.

In a series of Twitter posts, Black accused British Swimming of “corruption” due to access issues with the couple’s son, Robbie, after deciding not to attend the event. Both Daley and Black are keen to ensure that no identifiable photographs of Robbie are released into the public domain, after welcoming him via a surrogate last year.

Black’s anger stems from British Swimming’s inability to give him special dispensation to bring a pushchair onto the swimming pool concourse to help protect Robbie’s identity,

“Sadly, organisers at @britishswimming have succeeded in creating a toxic environment for our family at their events so we can’t be there in person on this very special London morning,” Black initially posted on Sunday. “If you are there, please give a big cheer for our @TomDaley1994 for us!

“Dear @britishswimming, it’s time to start treating families how other nations do: as assets, not obstacles.

“We are so proud of him (Daley)! And want more than anything to be there, but some rather cruel, thoughtless @britishswimming organisers have created a situation that is neither safe nor welcoming for our family.”

The tweets prompted a response from British Swimming, who issued a statement to say they were “extremely disappointed that Tom’s husband felt that he couldn’t be at the London Aquatic Centre”.

Tom Daley and Grace Reid pose with their gold medals after winning the Mixed 3m syncro final (Getty)

It added: "The London Aquatic Centre's policy is not to allow buggies onto the spectator concourse for health and safety reasons and British Swimming supported this policy to ensure the safety of everyone attending this exciting event."

But Drake issued another message on Monday morning to add: “So we agreed over the weekend to resolve our dispute with @britishswimming in private. And within the hour the CEO of @britishswimming put out a press release that is an absolute misrepresentation of what occurred. Or as my mom would call it: a lie. This organisation is corrupt.”