British Cycling technical director Shane Sutton has been suspended amid an investigation into discrimination allegations.
It follows a report in the Daily Mail that claimed Sutton made derogatory comments about Para-cyclists.
Cyclist Jess Varnish previously said Sutton made sexist comments towards her and told her to “go and have a baby”.
The 25-year-old said she spoke out against Australian Sutton, 58, to change attitudes at British Cycling.
Sutton, who has been a GB coach since 2002, denies Varnish’s claims, which include a sexist comment about her body shape.
He says her contract was not renewed because her times had slowed over the past three years and she was unlikely to medal.
“There was never any talk of babies,” he told The Times. “I don’t know where that’s come from.”
He claimed Varnish had not been “up to the job”, adding: “Jess was not one of the greats. It’s sad she’s come out and said the things she said.”
He added: “I have never used the terminology, ‘you’ve got a fat arse’, I’m just really upset she would say that.
“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.”
British Cycling had already begun an “independent review” into its performance programmes following Varnish’s comments.
Sutton told The Times he was “embracing the opportunity” to give his view, adding: “I don’t think I’ve been heard properly from day one of this.”
The interview with The Times took place before Sutton was suspended over allegations he made derogatory comments about Para-cyclists.
The term to refer to us was generally ‘gimps’
In the Mail report, Darren Kenny, one of Britain’s most decorated Para-cyclists, claims he heard members of the British disability team referred to in highly derogatory terms by Sutton.
“The attitude towards them was abysmal,” said Kenny, who won six Paralympic gold medals. “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.”
Varnish, dropped from the GB team after failing to qualify for Rio, has been invited to meet the equalities officer of British Cycling to discuss her concerns.
In a statement released on Tuesday, she said she remained “open to sharing my experiences” and “will happily engage with any investigations into the comments that Shane Sutton has made to me and other riders”.
Sutton joined British Cycling as a coach in 2002 and was part of the team that won seven track gold medals at both the 2008 and 2012 Olympics.
He was made technical director in 2014 when predecessor Sir Dave Brailsford stepped down after a decade in charge.
Sutton, who won Commonwealth Games gold as a rider, is due to take charge of performance at the Rio Olympics, which start on 5 August.
