British Cycling responds to 'toxic' claims

British Cycling has launched an action plan after a confidential survey, funded by UK Sport and conducted by an independent company, revealed a significant drop in morale among elite riders and performance staff, with 'toxic' being one of the most common words used to describe the organisation's World Class Programme. The survey found that 13 of 41 riders reported witnessing or experiencing inappropriate behaviour in the past year, while senior leadership effectiveness was among the lowest-scoring areas. The announcement comes as star sprinter Matt Richardson, 27, was withdrawn from the UCI Track Cycling World Championships squad amid an investigation into allegations of using discriminatory language.