UK Sport backs whistleblowers

SPORTS bosses have promised to prioritise athletes’ welfare and throw out the ‘win at all costs’ mentality.

It comes after former British Cycling technical director Shane Sutton stepped down following allegations made to Sportsmail of bullying and discrimination against elite cyclists.

Liz Nicholl, UK Sport chief executive, said the organisation will encourage more whistleblowers like Jess Varnish, who said she was subjected to sexism and unfair dismissal from the British Cycling Olympic programme, to come forward.

‘It is not win at all costs,’ said Nicholl. ‘Athletes should have a voice. UK Sport is funded by the public purse so we require the highest level of conduct.

‘Good organisations with good leadership have whistleblowing policies — but is it visible? I doubt it. Will it be more visible from now? Absolutely.’

UK Sport, with National Lottery support, provided £350million for Olympic and Paralympic sport in the fouryear cycle leading to the Rio Games. But it will be pushing the idea of a ‘duty of care’ to athletes in the lead-up to the Tokyo Olympics in 2020.

An independent review into the British Cycling performance programmes was launched last month after allegations of sexism and disability discrimination first made in Sportsmail. It will return its findings in Autumn 2016 to allow athletes competing in Rio to submit their thoughts after the Games.

Simon Timson, UK Sport’s director of performance, said he was unsure if Sutton’s exit would affect how many medals British Cyling would win in Rio. ‘ The proof will be in the pudding,’ he said. WADA, the World Anti-Doping Agency, has launched a new investigation into claims of Russian doping relating to the 2014 Winter Olympics in Sochi after fresh allegations on CBS’s 60 Minutes show on Sunday.