[the_ad id="5357"]
[ad_1]
Cynisca Cycling has confirmed that it has parted ways with a board of directors member Inga Thompson and sports director Marion Clignet. A team representative confirmed to Cyclingnews that Thompson resigned from her board member position in April and that Clignet’s contract was not renewed in February.
“Cynisca Cycling confirms that Inga Thompson is no longer a member of the Cynisca board of directors and will have no consulting or any other role with Cynisca,” the team wrote in a press release on Wednesday regarding Thompson’s departure, also stating, “The association with Inga Thompson has affected Cynisca’s brand and reputation.”
Thompson joined Cynisca Cycling’s board members, including founder and CEO Jeff Jones, Chris Gutowsky, Adam Giles, Margaret Jones and Jim Watson, last October, three months after the team was officially launched in France.
Thompson is a three-time Olympian and two-time podium finisher at the former women’s Tour de France, and US Bicycling Hall of Fame inductee. She has been vocal in her opposition to transgender women competing in the women’s category of sport and is part of the “save women’s sport” movement that aims to “protect” the women’s category.
Cynisca Cycling has stated that Thompson’s views do not align with the team’s.
“Ms. Thompson was invited to the board because of her impressive palmarés and a wealth of knowledge on international race strategy, tactics and training. If shared in the absence of politics, her knowledge and experience would benefit many and advance cycling for everyone. However, she has decided to dedicate her time to excluding people that are otherwise currently eligible to compete in UCI events. She has also attempted to use our team as a platform for her political activity,” said Cynisca Cycling.
“Ms. Thompson’s departure resolves a troubling conflict of interest. Cynisca is an apolitical organisation, and her campaign and methods, by charter, UCI Code of Ethics, US law and decency, are not and will never be Cynisca’s mission. To be clear, Ms. Thompson is entitled to her opinions and advocacy, but her methods and personal attacks are inconsistent with Cynisca’s mission to advance opportunities for women. Those methods, well-documented on Ms. Thompson’s social media presence, include dehumanisation of transgender people, spreading misinformation, demagoguery, and personal attacks on anyone who opposes her views.”
Cynisca Cycling also stated that its association with Thompson had affected the team…
Click Here to Read the Full Original Article at CyclingNews RSS Feed…
[ad_2]