The Scott Sunderland Diary 2000

No Olympics for Scott - July/August, 2000

As many of you are aware, Scott Sunderland was not one of the seven named members in the Australian Olympic team, announced in July. The riders in the squad were: Henk Vogels, Robbie McEwen, Stuart O'Grady, Nathan O'Neill and Matt White, with David McKenzie and Jamie Drew named as reserves. He appealed the decision to the Independent Tribunal for Sport but was turned down. Although he could have taken it to the Court of Arbitration as Kathy Watt did, he chose not to, as he explains in the following letter. That's not all as you will find out if you read on.

We do intend to publish a response from Cycling Australia when we receive it.

Dear family, friends and supporters

I wish to inform you that my appeal has been unsuccessful. I have to admit, I did expect this decision to be made by the Australian Cycling Federation Inc. Independent Appeals Tribunal. During the hearing (I was 'present', providing evidence by telephone from Belgium), I already had the feeling that Mr. Strang, an ex-AIS High Performance Manager, agreed completely with CA's point of view. The other Tribunal members were Mrs. Deborah Healey (Chair) and Mr. Kevin Nichols. I do thank all members of the Tribunal for giving me the opportunity to explain some technical aspects which had been wrongly presented by CA.

For me, appealing was a matter of professional pride, not a way to actually gain selection. I knew beforehand, even if my appeal was successful, the tribunal could only advise the selectors to review the team respecting the selection criteria. I also was aware of the fact, that, if this was the case, the selectors more than likely would have re-selected their initial team. Such is their right.

Nonetheless, the decision to disallow the appeal is of course a disappointment for all those people who know and respect me for my achievements within cycling and myself; one always hopes for a fair outcome.

In '96, I was denied selection for the Olympics because of mere political reasons. Seen my performances at that time, I should never have been left out of the '96 Selection. (I do admit, I missed a selection race, because our son Saën was born at the same time one of the selections races was held, the 26th of January. Seen the circumstances of the birth, I decided it was important for me to stay with my wife Sabine in Belgium. I had hoped the selectors understood this situation, but back then the selectors pointed out that selection criteria need to be followed to the letter. They have altered their opinion since.) Now, for the 2000 Olympics, I noticed that, again, every one of the riders selected has been 'formed' and guided by the AIS.

Selectors were Mr. Alex Fulcher MBE, Mr. Dave Sanders (who has 2 of 'his' protégées/Victorian riders in as reserves; McKenzie and Drew) and Mr. Shayne Bannan (head coach, worked closely with O'Neill, O'Grady, Vogels, White, Mc Ewen). These selectors have never raced professionally in Europe.

I am now in my 11th year as a professional cyclist in Europe. Before that, I was at the top of the World Amateur Cycling for 3 years. I possess of more professional, first hand experience than the three selectors put together. I may also say I am well respected here in Europe: all Dutch and Belgian television commentators and cycling's biggest stars (Johan Museeuw, Peter Van Petegem) speak highly of my 'strong character and professionalism'. They admire my determination to make it as an Australian in European cycling for a long period, and my eagerness to get back after my accident.

The only selector based in Europe is Mr. Shayne Bannan. The two other selectors, who live in Australia, relied on the information passed on to them by Mr. Bannan. Mr. Bannan resides in Italy, I live in Belgium. Often, the only way to find out about performances was to look at internet sites, newspapers, television, or simply to make a phone call to the cyclist involved. Over the last few years, Shayne Bannan has not once called me to inform about my personal form and results or my team's results. I got the feeling quite quickly along the way that Shayne had no interest in me, nor in my results. How can the selectors select the best team possible if they don't follow up on or consider all 12 cyclists named for the Olympic Squad in February?

The Appeal Process

Clause 7.1 of the Agreement provides that the grounds of appeal are as follows : "The only grounds of appeal were that the Nomination Criteria had not been followed."

According to the selection criteria "...the two remaining places must include a sprinter, a hill climber and domestiques". My appeal was based on the technical fact that there is no hill climber selected. (one has no right to base an appeal on for instance 'discrimination'or 'merit'). According to CA the nature of the 2000 Olympic Course is such that including a specialist hill climber is less important. Their reasoning has been accepted by the tribunal. This while successful traditional cycling countries like Italy and France have opted to send a specific climbers team to the Olympics in Sydney. According to a later submission by Mr. Ray Godkin, the Italians have not included climbers in their team! Pantani, Bartoli, Bettini, Di Luca, Casagrande, not climbers?

According to the Tribunal members, "evidence presented by CA indicated that both Henk Vogels and Matt White fulfil the criteria for a hill climber and can perform this role in addition to their other roles". Michael Flynn tried to define the criteria for a hill climber, to all present during the hearing, by saying: "if one can get over the climbs in the stages of the tour de France or the Giro d'Italia, one can be considered to be a hill climber"

We should, according to Flynn conclude that White, Vogels - and according to the CA theory, O'Grady and even Mc Ewen - qualify as climbers, this even if one arrives in the gruppetto half an hour to an hour after the winner of a mountain stage! This of course is utter and complete nonsense in the ears of any cyclist. It is an insult to the true climbers amongst them.

In reply to this ridiculous statement, I explained the important differences between a mountainous Tour stage and a one-day classic in detail. My explanation, although very clear, must not have been accepted as the Tribunal: "considered the Appellant's submissions but disagrees that the Nomination Committee has fallen into error".

If one looks at my resume one will see, with all respect for Matt White's and Henk Vogels' abilities, that I perform a lot better on a hilly parcours. Anyone familiar with European racing knows that. I am to date, the best one-day classic rider/climber Australia has. I share the opinion of the European countries whose selectors say that the hills on the course are indeed not hard but will surely get painful to sprinters' legs after a few laps.

Before I lodged the appeal, I already knew it was an almost impossible fight to win. It is a fact that CA/AIS have never wanted anything to do with me. (I do avoid using the word "discrimination" here.) This, according to many, because I am the last "self-made man", a cyclist who turned professional before the AIS/CA saw the light of day. I have felt the lack of respect and professional appreciation towards my person many times.

At the Cyclist of the Year Awards in '98, Mr. Charlie Walsh even failed to recognise me! (He had to ask another person present who the guy who just shook his hand was) How long does one have to be riding as a professional to be recognised by the CA people?

Mr. Shayne Bannan, head-coach, has on different occasions given me the impression he was not willing to work with me. My presence at training camps, etc. was not wished for and thus I was never informed properly. I did not get selected for the Olympic Athlete Screening Program even though my performances called for me to be included. This squad was formed in '98, at the time I had my accident. I do understand that could be the reason why I was not included initially; but since this squad is reviewed every three months I for sure had the credentials to be put in afterwards. Indeed, I dare say, my straightforwardness, my knowledge of the professional European racing scene, my experience and determination to succeed in my professional duties within a professional team have certainly not been appreciated by the people working within the AIS/CA system.

I fought back from a near fatal accident in '98, hoping to make it to the 2000 Olympics. All I wanted at that moment was to be present there. It was a long, very hard - according to my doctors incredible - fight. I had to overcome serious physical and mental obstacles but I made it. I re-entered competition successfully in august last year by winning a stage in the Tour of Castilla-Léon (Spain) and went on to win the Mountain Jersey and Points Classification in the Commonwealth Bank Classic, in which I finished 4th overall. I finished second Australian in the Open National Championships in January '00.

Mr. Michael Flynn implied during the hearing that I am a "quitter". Many people I informed about this do not understand how somebody can express such a thought, knowing I had many serious injuries to overcome (skull fracture, double heammoraeghe, whiplash and injured vertebras and pelvis) but fought so hard for over one and a half years to get back on the bike and succeeded by using pure willpower. After my crash in Kuurne-Brussel-Kuurne this year, in which my kneecap was severely damaged, I worked hard again to be in sufficient shape to support my team mates in the classics.

Mr. Flynn's attitude at the hearing was to me, quite unprofessional and very insulting. Mr. Alex Fulcher MBE, who said to the written press, at the occasion of the Oppy Oscar Award in '93, that I "was like a son to him and always could be relied on to bring the team home", suddenly seemed to have forgotten all about my abilities while assisting in the selection for the Olympic Team.

I do hope I do not see a situation within the Australian Team like I saw and experienced at the World Championships in Verona last year. It is so that the course demands a complete team, with all cyclists working together in a perfect understanding. Only then a medal will be within reach. I am of course very disappointed, but life goes on. I have been out on my own what concerns being an Australian Pro in Europe. I will, without doubt, continue to be as I have already been advised that CA and the AIS will probably refuse to work with me even more explicitly in the future, because of the appeal.

I want to thank everyone who has showed their concern and disappointment about my non-selection, thank you for the many e-mails, faxes and telephone calls. Purely because of financial reasons -my rehabilitation process has been very,very expensive- I will be unable but not unwilling to take the matter to the Court of Arbitration. I would find myself unable to pay the large costs of the running of the appeal which CA would claim in case I would not be successful in Court. Even though I am convinced that the appeal should have been allowed and the matter sent back to the selectors to select properly having regard the criteria; being financially responsible for our family, I do not allow myself to take the risk.

I might not have appealed in case the selectors, in particular Shayne Bannan, had showed some respect by at least contacting me now and again to ask how things were proceeding and by appointing me as one of the reserves. The wealth of experience and knowledge in all aspects of racing I am willing and have been offering to share, deserves some recognition and respect.

Despite my disappointement over this, I am now focusing fully on the job I have been doing successfully for so many years now and that is to bring wins to my team by ensuring the best rider in the team is properly supported.

Yours sincerely,

Scott Sunderland