General election may cause further delay to report into culture at British Cycling

The report of the independent review into British Cycling may be further delayed because of Prime Minister Theresa May’s decision to call a snap General Election, it has emerged.

According to Telegraph Sport, elite sports funding body UK Sport, which ordered the independent review a year ago, is unsure whether it will be bound by Whitehall rules that restrict the activities of governmental departments and agencies during pre-election periods.

The so-called ‘purdah period’ is established by convention within the Civil Service rather than being laid down by statute, and the newspaper reports that UK Sport has sought advice from the Department for Culture Media and Sport.

The independent panel that conducted the review was headed by Annamarie Phelps, the chairman of British Rowing.

It was set up a year ago in response to claims of bullying and discrimination made against former Great Britain Cycling Team technical director Shane Sutton and other British Cycling staff.

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It was originally due to report after the Rio Olympic and Paralympic Games last year.

However, the publication date has continued to be pushed back for reasons including the number of people giving evidence, and legal arguments over how much information should be disclosed.

A draft of the report was delivered to UK Sport and British Cycling in December, and the governing body has since agreed an Action Plan with the funding agency and has overhauled its senior management team with several appointments to key positions.

Last week, British Cycling said that the report should be published next month, although the calling of the general election now throws doubt on that.

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