Olympian Nicole Cooke: British Cycling 'downright sexist'

British Cycling is "downright sexist" and "run by men, for men", according to former Olympic champion Nicole Cooke.

Appearing before a Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee hearing into doping in sport, Cooke offered a withering commentary on the sport and many of its most senior figures.

She said she was "suspicious" about Sir Bradley Wiggins' use of Therapeutic Use Exemptions (TUEs) to take otherwise banned substances, and that former British Cycling head coach Shane Sutton was unsuited to the job.

Cooke, who won gold in the women's road race at the Beijing 2008 Olympics, also criticised UK Sport, which oversees the funding of elite Olympic sport, and UK Anti-Doping.

The 10-time British road race champion was called to give evidence on the culture of British cycling, and issues raised by the ongoing UK Anti-Doping investigation into the contents of a medical package delivered to Wiggins at Team Sky in 2011.

The package was couriered by Simon Cope, who at the time was the British Cycling women's coach. Cooke believes that the fact he was able to abandon his formal duties to spend four days delivering a package he claims not to know the contents of, is evidence of a sexist, unaccountable culture.

She agreed it was "downright sexist" and in written evidence provided to the committee said: "I summarise that as a sport run by men, for men.

"I have attempted to achieve redress on a number of occasions but have encountered a governance structure at the National Federation - British Cycling - that is not responsible to anyone other than itself for its own actions."

Last month Team Sky principal Sir Dave Brailsford told the committee that he has been told the package delivered to Wiggins contained a decongestant Fluimucil, but no paper trail has yet been provided.

The package came to light after Russian hackers revealed that Wiggins had received three TUEs for an otherwise banned corticosteroid Triamcinolone, prescribed to treat his allergies and asthma but which can be performance-enhancing, before the 2011 and 2012 Tour de France and 2013 Giro D'Italia.

Cooke said the "chronological coincidence" made her suspicious.

"The chronological coincidence of TUEs just before major events raises suspicions to me in terms of my experience of the way riders use the system.

"It makes me sceptical.

"I don't have the medical background… but based on my experience I am sceptical of what they have done."

Cooke also told the committee that that former technical director Mr Sutton, who resigned over sexism claims, was not the right man for the job.

Last year UK Sport ordered a review of British Cycling's culture and practices after former track cyclist Jess Varnish accused him of using inappropriate language.

An internal inquiry found he had used the word "bitches" about female cyclists, and Cooke said he was unsuitable for the role.

"I think with Shane he certainly wasn't suitable for the role of senior British coach for British Cycling.

"While he does have understanding of the sport and cycling, it isn't a role where he can look after his mates, have his favourites, make decisions in an arbitrary and capricious manner.

"There's a lot more that is required to have that role and Shane didn't have that."

British Cycling said in a statement: "While there is still a way to go, British Cycling is absolutely committed to resolving the historic gender imbalance in our sport.

"There is always more that can be done and we strive to make continual improvements to ensure that cycling is reaching out to women and girls of all ages and abilities.

"And, with the media recently moving to increase coverage of women's sport, we believe these improvements will accelerate."