Sir Dave Brailsford insists that British Cycling wasn't run by fear, after claims of sexism and discrimination led to the resignation of technical director Shane Sutton.
Brailsford, who stepped down from as head of performance at the governing body in 2013, supports the investigation into claims made by several former athletes on the Olympic programme.
Jess Varnish, who was dropped from the programme two weeks ago, was the first to speak out, with her claims supported by the likes of Emma Pooley, Nicole Cooke and Victoria Pendleton.
"The British Cycling model wasn't based around motivation through fear or performance through fear,” Brailsford told the Today programme on BBC Radio 4.
"You can't get performance on a continuous basis over a long period of time through fear. I just don't believe it."
>>> What you need to know about the British Cycling discrimination scandal
Varnish claims that Sutton told her to "go and have a baby" when she was dropped from the programme for reportedly declining performances. Sutton was suspended after reports emerged that he called para-cyclists "gimps" and "wobblies" and the Australian resigned shortly afterwards, with an independent inquiry launched into the claims.
Sir Dave Brailsford and Rod Ellingworth talk to Cycling Weekly before the 2016 season
Pooley, who returned to road racing at the Tour de Yorkshire, said that Brailsford also has questions to answer in regards to sexism, claiming there was never a plan to help her win the women's Giro d'Italia like there was for the men's team set up in 2010.
Both Brailsford and Sutton have welcomed the inquiry and the Team Sky boss says he will share everything he knows about the situation.
"It's really good that this inquiry has been brought in, so we can establish the truth," Brailsford said.
"I'm not going to go into the details. What I will do is I'll share everything that I know with that inquiry."
-
-
'Deafening' Basque fans and tactical precision as Simon Carr key to EF's Clásica San Sebastián win
The Brit dropped Mikel Landa to forge clear before team-mate Neilson Powless finished off the job and took the victory
By Jonny Long •
-
'I was watching the map on my Garmin, the others were too focused on the race situation': Powless on San Sebastián win
The American avoided a late crash and showed a strong sprint finish to pip Matej Mohorič to the victory
By Jonny Long •
-
WADA investigating UK Anti-Doping after allegedly allowing British Cycling to conduct own drug inquest
After a 2010 sample from a prominent rider returned trace amounts of the steroid nandralone, it is alleged UKAD allowed British Cycling to conduct their own private investigation into the matter
By Jonny Long •
-
Dr Richard Freeman speaks out: 'I am not a doping doctor'
Freeman continues to protest his innocence despite being found guilty by the GMC of ordering testosterone "knowing or believing" it was to dope a rider
By Jonny Long •
-
British Cycling brand Freeman guilty verdict 'extremely disturbing'
"This is a day for sober reflection," says the governing body
By Jonny Long •
-
'Until this is cleared up all those involved shouldn't be near the sport': MP calls for Ineos to suspend Dave Brailsford
The former shadow sports minister, Clive Efford, has called for a full investigation and that the Ineos boss has questions to answer
By Jonny Long •
-
'I was used as a scapegoat' says Shane Sutton after Freeman guilty verdict
Shane Sutton maintains that neither he nor Dave Brailsford knew about the testosterone order
By Jonny Long •
-
European Track Championships 2020: Gold and silver medals for GB as Matt Walls and women’s team sprint deliver opening night
The European Track Championships 2020 kicked off with some strong performances from British riders.
By Alex Ballinger •
-
Sir Dave Brailsford: 'We continued to work with our heads down, we didn’t notice other teams were overtaking us’
Sir Dave Brailsford Ineos Grenadiers “continued to work with their heads down, but didn’t notice other teams were overtaking them,” as the British squad looks to reinvent itself in 2021.
By Alex Ballinger •
-
Dave Brailsford: Relationship with Chris Froome 'as good as ever'
The Ineos boss goes all-in with Egan Bernal as Ineos challenge for an eighth yellow jersey in nine years
By Jonny Long •
