British sport grappling with athlete welfare crisis

LoNDoN

British sport is grappling with a crisis in athlete welfare after allegations of misconduct within canoeing and bobsled emerged in the same week that a report into bullying in cycling is due to be published.

UK Sport, the agency that distributes funding to Olympic and Paralympic sports in Britain, said a second investigation is about to begin within British Canoeing following allegations about the conduct of a coach.

In a separate statement, UK Sport said issues raised by athletes in bobsled have been investigated and are the subject of an “ongoing review.” The BBC reported Tuesday that allegations involved a senior coach being accused of racism.

The latest developments come while British Swimming is investigating allegations by para-swimmers of bullying.

On Wednesday, British Cycling will publish an independent review into its culture following claims by former rider Jess Varnish and other Olympians and Paralympians of sexism and bullying. The report was cocommissioned by UK Sport.

“As part of the independent review into the climate and culture in the British Cycling World Class Program, we have learnt valuable lessons to be shared across the British sporting system to improve culture and conduct and to ensure that issues, if they arise, are addressed robustly and appropriately,” UK Sport said.

“Athlete welfare and duty of care is of paramount importance to us,” added the agency, which has appointed a Head of Sport Integrity to “advise on policies and procedures for handling and reviewing cultural or behavioural issues as they arise and to provide assurance on the appropriateness and timeliness of actions taken by individual sports governing bodies.”