Spotlight on HPSNZ role in cycling’s toxic scene

High Performance Sport New Zealand will examine the role its own organisation played in enabling a toxic culture to fester at Cycling NZ as part of a review announced yesterday.

Former Solicitor General Michael Heron has been appointed to lead a review into actions of both HPSNZ and Cycling

NZ after the departure of head sprint coach Anthony Peden last month unearthed issues that had been swept under the carpet at Cycling NZ’s Cambridge headquarters.

Allegations of bullying, binge drinking and inappropriate behaviour have been levelled at Peden in the aftermath of his exit. It has also been alleged he was having a relationship with an athlete, appearing to creating a possible conflict of interest when it came to his role as a selector.

Heron will investigate the allegations of inappropriate behaviour in the Cycling NZ high performance programme and assess whether the national body’s response was ‘‘adequate and appropriate’’.

The review will also ‘‘identify, in detail, the information received and steps taken by HPSNZ’’ in the debrief of the 2016 Olympic campaign, and whether a breach in confidentiality occurred. Any information obtained about employees or contractors of HPSNZ which ‘‘may give rise to further action’’ will be referred back to chief executive Michael Scott.

Concerns over the dysfunctional culture of Cycling NZ’s elite programme and specific allegations related to Peden were raised during a review into the 2016 Olympic campaign. This review was led by HPSNZ, with Hamish Carter, Eddie Kohlhase and Paul Smith conducting the interviews. Despite the athletes being assured the process would be confidential, it is understood Peden was given access to the unedited transcripts of the interviews – an extraordinary breach of protocol that placed athletes in a vulnerable position.

Also, after being made aware during the review process of the athlete unrest and the toxic climate at Cycling NZ, there are concerns HPSNZ staff did not take effective steps to address the issues.

Scott said he was committed to finding out why his organisation had not acted decisively until now.

‘‘Athlete welfare has to be paramount, the high performance environment is all about pressure and intensity, but there is absolutely no place for bullying,’’ Scott said. ‘‘Our role is to get these athletes the best possible chance of success and I expect this organisation to treat with the utmost seriousness anything that may be a threat to athlete welfare.’’

Heron is to report back on the findings of his review no later than August 31.

‘‘I expect this organisation to treat with the utmost seriousness anything that may be a threat to athlete welfare.’’

Cycling NZ chief executive Michael Scott