1. Max van Heeswijk (Ned) TVM 2. Jens Heppner (Ger) Telekom 3. Servais Knaven (Ned) TVM
1. Geert Vanderaerden (Bel) Palmans-Ideal 2. Wim Omloop (Bel) Ipso 3. Tom Steels (Bel) Mapei-Bricobi 0.15 4. Jan Koerts (Ned) Rabobank 5. J-P. Heynderickx (Bel) Peloton at 0.15 52 starters
The choice for 2001 is more likely as it is believed that Antwerp is the only candidate for that year. It is almost 30 years since the track has hosted a World Track Championship.
...the Australian Sports Commission investigating allegations surrounding the Australian track cycling program - allegations including sexual harassment - we'll be joined this morning by executive director of the Australian Sports Commission Mr Jim Ferguson and we'll hear from Brian Hill, father of former world champion sprinter Australian Darryn Hill...
Karen Tighe: But first, Australia's national track cycling program is the centre of allegations this weekend, including sexual harassment, allegations which the Australian Sports Commission have been investigating. The claims come at a crucial time with the Australian team preparing for the world track championships later this month in Bordeaux, France and the Commonwealth Games in mid-September. Joining "Grandstand" now is executive director of the Australian Sports Commission, Jim Ferguson. Mr Ferguson good morning.
Jim Ferguson: Morning Karen.
Karen Tighe: Is the Australian Sports Commission investigating complaints surrounding the Australian track cycling team ?
Jim Ferguson: We have investigated a couple of complaints that were made by one athlete in the team.
Karen Tighe: Can you name the athlete ?
Jim Ferguson: Ahhhh I'd rather not. But there has been - I don't think it's any secret - there's been a bit of a falling out between the coach Charlie Walsh and one of the female riders, Lucy Tyler-Sharman.
Karen Tighe: But you won't confirm that it is Lucy Tyler-Sharman who has made these allegations or complaints.
Jim Ferguson: No.
Karen Tighe: Jim, what have the investigations conducted by you involved so far ?
Jim Ferguson: There was an allegation that there had been an incident of sexual harassment. That has been investigated. And to the best of our knowledge there is nothing to substantiate that allegation. There has been some allegations about difficulties within the program. That's not unusual at a time of tension leading up to the Commonwealth Games and the world championships. But we are satisfied that the program is on track.
Karen Tighe: So you're satisfied that the complaints involving sexual harassment have been resolved ?
Jim Ferguson: Well, they have been resolved to the best of our ability and to the best of our knowledge. If other people have other information then they'll have to come forward and produce it.
Karen Tighe: There were reports that those complaints were directed against a team masseur, can you confirm that ?
Jim Ferguson: That's correct. Yes.
Karen Tighe: Okay. Have complaints been lodged directly against national coach Charlie Walsh ?
Jim Ferguson: (long pause) No. No. Not directly.
Karen Tighe: Indirectly ?
Jim Ferguson: Well, there has been some discussion about the operation of the program ahhh but we've investigated that and as I say at times when you're leading up to a world championship there is always a bit of tension. Its not unusual that there are problems between athletes and coaches but we are satisfied that the program is on track.
Karen Tighe: Is it correct that Charlie Walsh has signed documents with yourselves pledging that he will provide the level of service and support that Lucy Tyler-Sharman requires in the lead up to the world championships ?
Jim Ferguson: The program that has been set-up for Lucy has been done with her agreement and with Charlie Walsh's agreement, so there's, in a sense, no dis-agreement about the program. She'll be rejoining....she's training separate from the team at the moment, she'll be rejoining the team when they go back to Germany.
Karen Tighe: Was there a need though to sign documents to that effect ?
Jim Ferguson: I don't believe so.
Karen Tighe: But, it has been done ?
Jim Ferguson: Ummm I don't believe that any specific documents have been signed to that effect. I mean there are team agreements and so on but they were all signed well in advance of this.
Karen Tighe: Mr Ferguson is the Australian Sports Commission also investigating allegations of illegal drug use within the Australian team ?
Jim Ferguson: No. There has been no such allegation.
Karen Tighe: There have been no complaints made in that area.
Jim Ferguson: None.
Karen Tighe: How seriously is the Australian Sports Commission taking these allegations ?
Jim Ferguson: Well, which allegations, we're not taking the one about drugs seriously, because we've investigated it and found it doesn't exist.
Jim Ferguson: About sexual harassment which you had investigated and also the allegations which you have said have been made by an Olympic athlete against members of the team.
Jim Ferguson: We have looked at the program and we've made some arrangements to take account of the requirements of the individual athletes. And as I say, as a result of that, we're satisfied that the program is on track.
Karen Tighe: Satisfied it's on track now. Of course, we are leading up to the world track titles at the end of this month and the Commonwealth Games in mid-September, is this it, as far as the Sports Commission is concerned now, or will there be further investigations ?
Jim Ferguson: No. The program will be reviewed after the Commonwealth Games, as are all Olympic sports being reviewed, over the second half of this year. So, there was always going to be a review of the program done at that time. Like these other sports, we'd accepted that these reviews be done after the keynote event, in this case the world championships and the Commonwealth Games which are very close together. So, after the Commonwealth Games are completed we'll be reviewing the program again.
Karen Tighe: So, will no further attention be given to cycling or liaison with Australian Cycling Federation before the world championships ?
Jim Ferguson: Well we'll stay, obviously, in close liaison with the Australian Cycling Federation. That would be normal. But, we are not proposing to take any further action at this stage.
Karen Tighe: Alright Mr Ferguson, thank you very much for your time on "Grandstand" this morning.
Jim Ferguson: Okay. Thank you.
Karen Tighe: Executive director of the Australian Sports Commission, Jim Ferguson.