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news
Jess Varnish celebrates a gold medal and world record (© Dene Percy)MPs to grill sports minister over UK Sport’s 'intimidation' tactics towards Jess Varnish
The Digital, Culture, Media & Sport (DCMS) select committee is to question sports minister Tracey Crouch over what it perceives as ‘intimidation tactics’ towards Jessica Varnish. The matter relates to her case against British Cycling and UK Sport in which she is alleging sex discrimination and unfair dismissal.
If Varnish’s case is successful, it is likely to have major implications for all UK Sport-funded athletes. She argues that athletes should legally be classed as employees, which would among other things mean the agency was obliged to start paying pension and national insurance costs.
Yesterday we reported how UK Sport had applied for a strike-out order to have her case dismissed, and also for a costs order and a deposit order, which would have meant her assets being seized pending the case.
The power of strike-out is used sparingly by the courts – and only for plain and obvious cases. Similarly, costs and deposit orders are only granted when a case is considered weak.
A judge dismissed the applications on Monday, allowing Varnish to proceed towards an employment tribunal, but The Telegraph reports that Damian Collins MP, the chairman of the DCMS select committee, is nevertheless unhappy with the agency’s “heavy-handed” legal tactics.
UK Sport is answerable to Crouch and Collins said he would be pressing her on the issue when she appeared before the select committee.
“I think it is a form of intimidation to try to get Jess Varnish to drop the case,” he said. “If UK Sport had succeeded, it would have probably been impossible for Jess Varnish to continue.
“It’s pretty tragic that it’s come to this anyway, that Jess Varnish feels that the only option she has in order to pursue her grievance is to take them to court. But for UK Sport to respond in that heavy-handed way just shows how desperate things have become.
“Although the sports minister won’t be able to get involved in the details of the case, we’re quite interested in discussing with Tracey when she appears in front of the committee on Tuesday the ethics of UK Sport’s behaviour.”
British Cycling also had the option of submitting costs and deposit order applications against Varnish but did not do so.
Alex has written for more cricket publications than the rest of the road.cc team combined. Despite the apparent evidence of this picture, he doesn't especially like cake.
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15 comments
There are loads of weird and inconsistent decisions - the treatment of Tre Whyte is another example.
It isn't all driven by what the likes of Valbrona would describe as a lefty ('Marxist', jesus wept) or PC agenda. Some of it is undoubtedly discrimination; others are examples of an amateur structure and failings in management and governance resulting in inconsistency and incompetent decisions.
It's been found to be woefully inadequate.
About time; Jess Varnish has and continues to be treated appallingly by the "establishment" !
Despite all of the wrong aspects to this sorry saga, it is becoming evident that it extends beyond BC and into UK Sport/Sport England. The leaders of these bodies were overjoyed while the cycling medals were coming in by the bucket load; it made them and others look good. However, the balance between performance and governance was overlooked by these bodies in favour of performance and issues of governance were pushed aside. Once all of the issues become apparent it might become clear why these bodies and ministers put the "squeeze" on Jess Varnish.
Yes, in the brain of the paranoid-Marxist sexism lurks in even the tiniest facets of life, and it is everyone's duty to root it out. Really, who now wants to be a man in a position of responsibility in life?
Shane Sutton?
(cos he knows how to handle the sheilas)
Utter rubbish, explain how Victoria Pendleton was told to keep her relationship with one of the team doctors quiet whilst the Trott - Kenny was pushed constantly or the fact that we sent 3 mens bobsleigh teams to the latest competition but couldn't afford to send any women, the same in rugby and the reduced saleries in football. Open your eyes and see the truth rather than hiding behain weak ideology.
To think that there is actually a lawyer out there who decided to take on this case. How can anyone possibly be unfairly dismissed if they were never in employment in the first place?
The outcome of all of this is that there will inevitably be more openings for female coaches to coach female riders ... because what man would want to coach women from now on?
Shane Sutton?
(cos he knows how to handle the sheilas)
Not all blokes are scared of, or feel threatened by women, you should try and get to meet some.
Women playing mens games was always going to turn out like this.
with a short article on here?
Just admit you are a sexist pig and be done with it.
Nooooo, don't stop at sexist. You'd have to squeeze at least four other adjectives in before he could be done with it.
you're assuming Val isn't a woman... but it would explain the cattiness, narcissism of small differences etc.
Chap, how many of your posts aren’t attempts at trolling?