JESS VARNISH RIO DREAM IN TATTERS
JESS VARNISH’s dreams of riding at this summer’s Olympics are almost certainly over after British Cycling bosses stood by the decision to axe her from the podium programme.
Varnish insisted she was not dropped for performance reasons and claimed the move was motivated by former technical director Shane Sutton’s anger that she blamed coaching staff for her failure to qualify with Katy Marchant for the team sprint in Rio.
But in a meeting yesterday with new technical director Andy Harrison, the data that was used to drop Varnish was once again given as the reason for her dismissal.
However, the argument continued to rage between the two parties after the talks. It seems there could even be a dispute over the minutes taken at the meeting by representatives on both sides.
While Varnish’s camp maintain that she did not receive her performance data, British Cycling insist she was provided with all the data she requested in three emails.
Further to that, they point to the fact that the meeting she did have with coaching staff met the requirements laid out in the British Cycling selection criteria, given that it is the coaches who decide on selection issues. There are also claims Varnish has passed on more recent opportunities to race Becky James and Marchant, who would be her rivals for a sprint place in Rio.
This, Varnish’s team insist, is because she is currently unable to compete, having had to hand back her bike and other equipment when leaving the programme.
Varnish levelled a series of accusations of bullying and sexism at British Cycling staff in an exclusive Sportsmail interview last month, claiming she was told by Sutton that, at 25, she was ‘ too old’ and should ‘just move on and get on with having a baby’.
It sparked a controversy that, along with further allegations of discrimination and bullying, resulted in Sutton’s resignation.
The Australian, though, denied the claims, maintaining he ‘ acted with complete professionalism’.
But Varnish — a world, Commonwealth and European medallist — also claimed there was not adequate warning of her removal from the programme, claiming there was no official meeting and that she did not receive the performance data.
Varnish has been training in Australia and is excluded from British Cycling’s base in Manchester.
However, they insist Varnish could still go to Rio as riders can be picked from outside the programme.
I was told to go and have a baby … and my bum was too big Sportsmail’s explosive interview with Jess Varnish last month