Ex-British Cycling chief says "something not right" about all-female panel on Sutton investigation

A former president of British Cycling has questioned the composition of the panel conducting the independent review into allegations of sexism in the organisation’s World Class Programme. Speaking to Clare McDonnell on BBC Radio 5 Live’s Breakfast Show this morning (Friday), Tony Doyle said “something’s not right there” about the review being led by three women.

In April, UK Sport and British Cycling announced that Annamarie Phelps CBE would chair the jointly commissioned independent review into British Cycling’s World Class Programme. She was joined by Marian Lauder MBE, Non-Executive Director of British Cycling, and Liz Nicholl, CEO of UK Sport to form the commissioning board.

The review, which is examining claims of discrimination and bullying, was ordered following the resignation of British Cycling’s technical director, Shane Sutton.

In May, the three named a review panel comprising former England rugby union coach, Stuart Lancaster; Olympic hockey medallist and Goldman Sachs trader, Annie Panter; sports lawyer, John Mehrzad; and the Artistic Director of Southbank Centre, Jude Kelly CBE.

The commissioning board’s role is said to be to ensure the panel is supported in its work.

The Guardian reports that after discussing the latest allegations against Team Sky and Sir Bradley Wiggins, Doyle said:

“First of all we had the whole Shane Sutton debacle, who’s the technical director. There was an independent review because he was allegedly said to have made sexist remarks. The independent review, Clare, was conducted by three women. You know … so something’s not right there.”

McDonnell responded: “OK. Well. Ummm. Other people may disagree with you on that one. If it’s independent, it’s independent, regardless of gender, but Tony Doyle, thank you for that.”