The problems within British Cycling won't come to an end with Shane Sutton's resignation

Sport is a competitive business; relationships between athletes and senior coaches, and administrators, can easily become strained

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

The resignation of British Cycling’s technical director, Shane Sutton, came as Olympic hopefuls began the 100 day countdown to this summer’s Games in Rio. The timing was not auspicious.

Nevertheless, as allegations of sexism and of discrimination against disabled cyclists mounted, the decision by Sutton to get on his bike was a sound one. He emphatically denies all of the claims against him but could not dispute that they had become, at best, a distraction. Indeed, while his departure comes at what seems an inconvenient juncture, it is far better now than later.

An investigation will probe the specific accusations levelled by individual cyclists including Jess Varnish and Darren Kenny. Yet that may not be enough for it seems clear that many athletes have become disillusioned by British Cycling’s organisational culture more broadly.

Kenny says he stayed away from the base in Manchester as much as he could. Tre Whyte, the BMX rider, has spoken of feeling unsupported by senior management, while Emma Pooley – a recent returnee to Team GB – has suggested that the problems within British Cycling don’t revolve solely around Shane Sutton.

Sport is a competitive business; relationships between athletes and senior coaches, and administrators, can easily become strained – especially when issues of selection for tournaments and future funding are at stake. But tough love and difficult decisions shouldn’t automatically lead to the kind of sour atmosphere that appears to have developed at British Cycling. The independent review now underway should be full and frank, if preparations by Team GB’s cyclists are to get back on track in time for Rio.