British Cycling CEO on Sutton: I would have acted if I’d known

LONDON (AFP) — British Cycling chief executive Ian Drake said Friday he had no prior knowledge of allegations of discrimination toward Paralympic riders, which prompted the resignation of technical director Shane Sutton.

The 58-year-old Australian quit on Wednesday, just 100 days before the start of the Rio Olympics, saying he did not want to be a “distraction” for British riders in the build-up to the Games.

Sutton stood down following allegations he had told British sprinter Jess Varnish to “go and have a baby” after she was dropped from the team, and called Paralympic cyclists “gimps.”

A key figure behind the scenes in the success of British cyclists at both the Beijing and London Olympics, Sutton was suspended by British Cycling late on Tuesday after the “gimp” allegation was made public.

That announcement came soon after British Cycling launched an independent review into claims he had been sexist in his treatment of Varnish.

Sutton has denied all the …

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