Sex, lies and velodromes
Anthony Peden had an inappropriate personal relationship with a female athlete while he was Cycling NZ sprint coach, an independent review has found.
Peden was also involved in numerous instances of bullying and part of a small group of individuals at CNZ who had a drinking culture.
Lawyer Michael Heron released an 83-page review of CNZ’s high performance programme yesterday, after interviewing more than 70 people.
The review was instigated after allegations about Peden’s conduct became public following his resignation in May.
CNZ’s code of ethics, signed by Peden in February, 2014, says coaches ‘‘should not only refrain from initiating a sexual relationship with riders, but should also discourage any attempt by a rider to initiate a sexual relationship with you’’.
Considering the cumulative impact of a number of factors, Heron was satisfied ‘‘there was an intimate and sexual relationship between [Peden] and [a] female athlete’’.
While neither consented to an interview, Peden did provide an initial written statement, and both he and the cyclist responded to a draft of the report.
While Peden ‘‘submitted that the evidence was unreliable and inaccurate’’, he would not pinpoint errors, the review said.
Heron found the relationship ‘‘was not disclosed’’ to CNZ ‘‘by either party’’, and ‘‘it was aggravated by the circumstances that the then partner of the athlete was also an athlete in the programme’’. While Heron did not name the athlete said to be involved, he listed 11 factors that supported his finding there was an inappropriate relationship, among them being: ❏ they were ‘‘seen along together in social settings’’. ❏ the athlete ‘‘was seen regularly at [Peden’s] house from October, 2017, onwards’’. ❏ there was ‘‘favouritism from Peden to the athlete’’. ❏ the ‘‘athlete admitted to at least one person interviewed she was sleeping with [Peden]’’.
Another factor was an incident in Bordeaux, France, in the leadup to the Rio Olympics in July, 2016, where Peden and the athlete returned to the team hotel at ‘‘approximately 2.30am’’.
Heron was told they ‘‘they were clearly intoxicated,’’ with a witness describing seeing ‘‘an intimate moment between them’’.
Peden was given a formal verbal warning following this incident as well as an alcohol ban, which he was said to have breached on several occasions.
Heron found ‘‘a young female athlete [was] pressured to lie,’’ about events in Bordeaux and ‘‘the team manager was later put under pressure by [Peden] not to speak about the incident’’.
He also found issues said to be behind the incident relating to Peden, that arose from an accident in 2015.
It had subsequent health concerns Heron said, which ‘‘were very important background features,’’ and for CNZ ‘‘an opportunity to support [Peden] in this area was missed’’.
Heron wrote that while Peden ‘‘submitted that the evidence was unreliable and inaccurate’’, he would not pinpoint errors.
‘‘At no stage did [Peden] provide an alternate narrative or explanation of events,’’ Heron said yesterday.
He found the athlete ‘‘stated that she was certain that many statements made to me were fabricated and evidentially weak’’.
‘‘She did not, however, identify which ones were fabricated or provide any alternative explanation for the circumstances I have described.’’
In laying out the potential problems posed by an athletecoach relationship, Heron found ‘‘the subject of sexual relationships between consenting athletes and coaches is complex, contentious, and requires careful attention’’.
‘‘The athlete-coach relationship was described to me as a collaboration based on trust and confidence. It is also a relationship where there is a power imbalance. It is a relationship of trust and power.
‘‘An intimate personal relationship between a coach and an athlete can undermine the necessary trust and confidence. Among other things, this threatens high performance as considerations beyond welfare and performance are likely to interfere.’’
Peden, coach of the year at the 2014 Halberg Awards, is now working as a coach with the Chinese national team.
Andrew Matheson has been backed by Cycling New Zealand’s board to remain as chief executive, despite an independent review finding the sport’s high performance programme culture was dysfunctional for a two-year period taking in the 2016 Rio Olympics.
Lawyer Mike Heron released his report yesterday, finding that there were ‘‘instances of bullying in the programme’’, a ‘‘lack of accountability and effective leadership’’ and that Cycling NZ’s (CNZ’s) response to issues ‘‘was ineffective and inadequate’’.
CNZ chairman Tony Mitchell said there would be no changes at the top of the organisation, despite Heron’s findings that Matheson ‘‘appeared to take a one-dimensional approach to issues’’ and didn’t fully investigate potentially serious incidents.
‘‘Andrew Matheson is our CEO and the board has confidence in Andrew,’’ Mitchell said.
He said the organisation ‘‘acknowledge[s] the areas we did not get right and that more should have been done. Cycling New Zealand apologises to all those adversely impacted during this time’’.
He added: ‘‘Of paramount importance to us is ensuring we support our athletes and staff who have been directly affected by this review.’’
Heron also found that High Performance Sport NZ (HPSNZ) could have done more to ensure issues were being adequately dealt with by CNZ.
The review was instigated in June after allegations regarding the culture of CNZ high performance programme and the conduct of sprint coach Anthony Peden, who resigned in May, were made public.
Heron listed 10 events from 2016 to 2018 that the governing body’s leadership was aware of.
Nine of the 10 incidents involved Peden or his behaviour.
Only two of the 10 resulted in disciplinary action, though Heron noted action on the last three was pre-empted by Peden’s resignation.
Heron found there were instances of bullying in the programme, ‘‘concentrated around [but not limited to]’’ Peden, listing nine examples of incidents involving the sprint coach.
He ‘‘was not presented with evidence that was a widespread, systemic culture’’ of bullying.
‘‘The clear view I received was that the current environment was a more positive, collaborative and open one. The critical issue for Cycling NZ and HPSNZ is to do their best to ensure this cannot happen again.’’
Heron found that Peden was one of ‘‘a limited number of individuals who drank to excess whilst on tour’’, but ‘‘the majority of athletes and staff treated alcohol responsibly’’.
Peden responded to a draft of Heron’s report through his lawyer, who found that ‘‘the report is grossly inaccurate in many respects, and based on unreliable and inaccurate evidence’’. However, he declined to critique specific errors ‘‘because that may only lead to the airing of further untruths and inaccuracies’’.
Heron found that ‘‘potentially serious drinking and bullying incidents were not investigated fully, nor were the underlying causes examined or mitigated’’.
He found that Matheson ‘‘appeared to take a onedimensional approach to issues and did not appear to engage sufficient internal or external resources to assist him’’.
Heron found that ‘‘HPSNZ as a whole knew enough of the circumstances before May 2018 to have done more to assist’’.
HPSNZ chief executive Michael Scott said in a statement that the behaviour outlined in Heron’s report ‘‘has absolutely no place in high performance sport in New Zealand’’.
‘‘There is no question HPSNZ could and should have done more with the information we had. This is not something we want to see repeated.
‘‘To any athletes impacted by the conduct of HPSNZ, we are sorry.’’