Shane Sutton cleared on eight counts of “discriminatory language” by British Cycling board inquiry

AUSSIE cycling coach Shane Sutton has been cleared of eight claims he used “inappropriate and discriminatory language” to a female team member.

Shane Sutton, a key force in Britain’s recent dominance in cycling, was found to have used the term ‘bitches’, but cleared of eight other charges.

Jess Varnish has said she is “shocked and upset” after learning only one of her nine complaints against former British Cycling technical director, Australian-born Shane Sutton, was upheld by the national governing body.

British Cycling said in October that former Olympian Varnish’s complaint of “inappropriate and discriminatory language” against Shane Sutton had been upheld.

However BBC Sport reported on Wednesday evening that 59-year-old Sutton had been cleared of eight of the counts against him.

A leaked document showed the British Cycling board upheld the complaint that it was probable Sutton used the term “bitches”, but it showed that further claims were not accepted.

Revealed: Cycling coach Shane Sutton lost Jess Varnish case over use of word 'bitches' https://t.co/aY8KolZGcZ pic.twitter.com/zYzSchr1PU

— Dan Roan (@danroan) December 7, 2016

The board returned ‘not upheld’ verdicts in use of the term ‘Sheilas’, allegations of swearing, the claim that Sutton had told Varnish to “get on with having a baby”, and the Australian branding women as difficult.

Sutton resigned on April 27, 100 days before the Rio Olympics, over the allegations of sexism levelled by Varnish and further claims that he called members of the Paralympic team ‘‘gimps’‘ and ‘‘wobblies’‘.

He rejected the specific allegations, but quit to avoid any distraction leading up to the Rio Games, and said last month he would appeal against the British Cycling verdict.

Varnish now also wants answers after all but one of her accusations was not accepted.

She told the BBC: “Having provided substantial evidence to back up my complaints, to now learn that the majority were not upheld, is heartbreaking. I know what was said, and I know I’ve told the truth.

“I have requested from British Cycling the full investigation report to understand why the weight of evidence provided by me and others wasn’t sufficient for the board to uphold my complaints.”

Originally published as Shane Sutton cleared on eight counts of “discriminatory language” by British Cycling board inquiry