Under-fire NZ Cycling backs boss
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.’’