Mitchell is left reeling by lengthy suspension

SPORTS Editor

MARTON rider Barrie Mitchell says the severity of a ban handed out to him by time trialling’s national body has left him “staggered”.

Cycling Time Trials (CTT) have suspended the 18-times British champion from all CTT, British Cycling Federation and Veterans Time Trials Association events until May 31 2011, in addition to banning him from entering national championships for 16 months.

The sanctions were imposed after Mitchell mistyped a qualifying time on his entry form for May’s National 10-mile Time Trial Championship.

The matter was brought to light after the championships, in which the 63-year-old failed to win a medal, and, after pleading guilty to the offence, an ad hoc committee imposed the lengthy bans.

“It seems absolutely staggering,” said Mitchell, whose best time of 21min 30sec was still well under the qualifying limit of 21min 54sec. “I was expecting a rap on the knuckles, a written warning or perhaps a three-month ban. But even that seemed over the top.

“I’ve been riding since I was 15 and have never had any cause to be reprimanded or sanctioned. I was a bit taken aback by it to be honest.”

The penalties are more severe because the Team Endura - MI Racing rider competes all year round, entering road races and cyclo cross events in addition to time trials.

Mitchell’s team director Mick Ives believes a warning would have been a much more suitable punishment given the rider’s previously unblemished record.

“The penalties are outrageous,” said Ives. “We all expect to be chastised when we make a mistake, but a suspension of this nature is not par for the course. The people who have made this decision are not in touch with the sport.

“Barrie has been competing for almost 50 years in all disciplines of the sport without ever being in trouble.

“He is a most highly respected rider and an excellent organiser, who is on the board of League of Veteran Racing Cyclists.”

Mitchell has been told he has no right of appeal because he did not attend the hearing in Derby.

However, Ives is determined to fight the decision and is looking to use his network of cycling contacts to force the CTT into a U-turn.

“There is no way I will let this matter rest until there has been a complete review of the situation and a realistic solution obtained.

“Sixteen months for a typing error, and you only get two years for being caught taking performance-enhancing drugs - let’s get real.

“The reaction from around the UK has been massive. My phone has never stopped ringing, such is the support to get these penalties quashed.”

Mitchell admits he should have double-checked his entry form and also notified CTT of a subsequent improvement to his qualifying time.

However, Phil Heaton, national secretary of CTT, says rules in place to safeguard the integrity of the sport left them with no option but to suspend Mitchell.

“No one asks to see your birth certificate to prove your age or see your club membership details,” said Heaton.

“There’s a lot of trust in the sport and that trust has been broken. That is why a dim view has been taken.

“Barrie is a very experienced rider and he knows better.

“The bare facts are that he put the form in and got the ride under false pretences. We could have given him a slap on the wrist but this was of sufficient severity to warrant much more than that.”

Despite the lengthy lay-off, Mitchell say he has no plans to quit competitive cycling.

“The sanctions are ludicrous, but I’ve no intention of throwing the towel in,” he said. “I’ve been at it far too long to stop now.”