Shane Sutton angry over length of British Cycling investigation
Last Updated: 01/11/16 5:25pm
Shane Sutton says his life has been turned into a nightmare by the six-month investigation into his behaviour by British Cycling.
The result of the probe was confirmed on Friday, when allegations made by Jess Varnish that technical director Sutton had used "inappropriate and discriminatory" language towards her were upheld.
Sutton has consistently denied the claims made against him, one of which was that he told Varnish to "go and have a baby" after she had been dropped from the British track team.
And he told Sky Sports News HQ in a TV exclusive interview that the investigation should have been dealt with much more quickly, as well as ending in a different result.
Sutton, who resigned from the role in April, said: "The word nightmare springs to mind. It's hard to understand why it has taken so long to arrive at the decision they arrived at.
"In normal business practice, if there is a complaint - and on this occasion remember there was no complaint, just an allegation made in a newspaper - you would say to all parties you have two weeks to come up with your evidence and in two weeks' time, we'll make a decision.
"This thing has just dragged on for six months and it's had a massive impact on myself, my family and everybody around me. It's been disappointing from that aspect.
"I want to know how they came to decision and will use Freedom of Information Act. I want to understand the rationale."
Sutton again denied making comments attributed to him by Varnish, which also included a conversation over the size of her bottom.
He did concede there was a talk about Varnish's weight but that his reply had been a simple one, not something that could be taken as insulting.
Sutton continued: "I've said it from day one - that [baby] conversation has never taken place. The weight conversation did take place. If Jess can produce when that conversation took place and who was there at the time, and I believe it was only me and her, I find it hard to understand the decision when it was only her word against mine.
"The weight conversation definitely happened but it never happened in the terms it has been described in the press.
"On that morning, the coaches and the dietitians had sat Jess down and told her she really needed to lose some weight. Jess was very confused, because at one point she thought the coach was saying 'we need you to get bigger' and that she needed more power.
"She asked for my personal opinion and my exact words were 'you're not trying to jump off the top of the track here - it's a standing start and we're looking to qualify for the Games in team sprint - you need to lose some timber'. Where this wording has come from in the press, it's beyond belief.
"She needs to look at herself. She was a good bike rider, not a great bike rider. I totally sympathise with her losing her place but we are about performance and Jess hadn't done that for quite some time."
