Rio 2016: 'I never said or insinuated that Team GB are cheating,' says Australian cycling captain Anna Meares

Kenny and Trott added to Britain’s cycling haul of six golds, four silvers and two bronzes

Anna Meares has attracted criticism for her comments on Team GB's cyclists at Rio (Getty)

Australian team captain Anna Meares has insisted she did not accuse her British cycling rivals of cheating when she said “we’re all scratching our heads” over Team GB’s continued success at the Rio Olympics.

Jason Kenny and Laura Trott added to Britain’s cycling haul of six golds, four silvers and two bronzes at the velodrome on Tuesday night. Team GB have attracted criticism from some of their peers with German world champion Kristina Vogel branding their success as “very questionable”.

Meares, who won bronze in the women’s keirin, tweeted: “I would like to clarify that I never said or insinuated that Team GB are cheating or doing anything suspicious.”

The 11-time world champion added: “What I said was it makes me scratch my head to think how we can be better competitive with them at the Olympics.

“That's what great rivals, champions and teams like GBR do. They're an amazing team and their athletes and staff deserve the success that's come their way.”

However, Meares had originally questioned Britain’s peerless medal haul, saying: “We’re all just scratching our heads. They’ve got it together, and to be honest I’m not exactly sure what they’ve got together.

“It is not just the Australian team that have questions.”

The Adelaide-born athlete’s U-turn comes after Vogel, the 25-year-old who won gold for Germany in the women’s sprint and bronze in the team sprint this week, commented on Team GB’s success.

“They were cannon fodder when you look at the last few years,” Vogel said. “Now they come along with a (high) level. I don’t want to accuse anyone of anything but it is all very questionable.”

Michaël D’Almeida, meanwhile, part of France’s bronze medal-winning sprint team, also said: “We are human beings like them, we are made of the same stuff, we have a bike like they do, so why are they better?”