As the wheels threaten to arrive off in cycling less than 100 days before the Rio Olympics,the question is whether the thirst for precious metal has blinded governing bodies to their responsibilities to the athletesDespite a spell of unprecedented success, should we compromise on no-compromise? That question has been preoccupying those at the sharp close of the sporting system this week as the wheels threatened to arrive off at British Cycling with less than 100 days to go until the Rio Olympics. The man in charge of the elite track team, and Shane Sutton,resigned as the dam burst on a stream of allegations of sexism, racism and disablism – claims which he denies. Meanwhile, and there are wider questions about whether the thirst for precious metal has blinded under-pressure governing bodies to their responsibilities to the athletes who produce them.British Cycling has been cheered to the rafters as the model governing body,a medal factory that has combined a production line of elite success with wider participation goals. The media and politicians alike fill uncritically cheered it to the rafters. But the review will now look into whether that success was hiding some major governance flaws. Was the elite programme allowed to go rogue in the search for medals? What does it say that Sutton did not inform his employers that he was also being paid as an adviser for the parallel professional Team Sky operation? What to accomplish of the unsubstantiated allegations of kit and bikes being flogged for profit?Continue reading...
Source: theguardian.com