Cycling chief Shane Sutton suspended as Paralympian Darren Kenny makes fresh allegations

Sutton had already been accused of telling cyclist Jess Varnish to ‘go and have a baby’ when she was dropped from the team, and making sexist comments towards her.

However, further allegations have been made that Sutton made offensive remarks about the British disability team.

Darren Kenny, a British para-cyclist said: "The attitude towards them was abysmal. We were tolerated at best. The term used to refer to us was generally 'gimps', with another word in front of that.

"I know others had an issue as well with not being allowed on the track and not being given time to prepare for competitions."

British Cycling has now ordered two separate investigations: one into the allegations around Varnish and a second into Sutton's general conduct.

A British cycling spokesman told the Guardian:

Sutton has said that the reason for Varnish to be dropped was a decline in her performance. He defended himself in comments to the British press:

"Someone who wasn't up to the job has left the programme and should embrace my comments," Sutton told the Times in an interview.

"Jess was not one of the greats. It's sad she's come out and said the things she said. Jess is a wonderful girl, a beautiful person, I couldn't ask for any more from her on the programme. Unfortunately everything comes to an end. And unfortunately her time on the programme is done.

"I'm embracing the opportunity to actually sit in front of the panel and give my view because I don't think I've been heard properly from day one of this. I've had great support from everybody here but at the end of the day it's an allegation."

Sutton also categorically denied Varnish's accusation that he told her "to move on and get on with having a baby" and said he was hurt and upset by her allegations that he had made derogatory comments about her weight.

"No, there was never any talk of babies. I don't know where that's come from," Sutton added. "I'm just really upset she would say that. We've go to look at Olympic medals. Jess was devoted to her job, but unfortunately where her times were going backwards the rest of the world was progressing, so the gap was growing and growing."