Women's cycling champion Kaya Cattouse has been suspended for ninety days by the Cycling Federation of Belize following an incident at what she says was her final race under the federation. In a letter dated March 31, the federation informed Cattouse that the disciplinary action stemmed from what it described as "blatant disrespectful behaviour" and the use of profanity toward federation officials during the start of the 35th Annual PUMA Women's Cross Country Cycling Classic. The federation said the conduct violated its code of conduct and announced that Cattouse would be suspended from all sanctioned events and activities for ninety days, effective immediately. Today we spoke to president Glenford Flowers who explained why the decision had to be made:
Glen Flowers, President, Cycling Federation
"If I was to give Miss Kaya that opportunity, I would have never ask her to follow the protocol which going through the email, which is the right procedure. So I guess there's just a meltdown there where Miss Kaya and myself had a miscommunication with riding in the Jersey because she knows fully well that that is not permitted under the regulations."
"So at the start of the race, there was a back and forth about if they should ride or not ride. However, the race did started. Ms. Kaya was told that the young lady is not to ride in the jersey. They offered her a jersey or a shirt to put over the jersey."
"They even offered to just put a tape across the name, which says Loans ToGo and she can ride in the jersey, which she declined. And so the race went on. And at the end of the race, the committee again went into session and decided that she's going to be suspended and fined for that reason."
"The error goes right back basic to the policy. So while I think the miscommunication went that I gave Miss Kaya, yes, the rider can come to participate in the race in Belize, there was still another chapter where you have to meet that criteria."
"You cannot ride. A foreign rider is not allowed to ride on a local team or wear that jersey, in which Ms. Kaya does know that there's a rule there, you know, and that cannot, even though I'm the president, I can tell you, yes, I can break that rule, but if I'm sending you through the right channel, if I missed it, somebody else is going to caught it."
"And that's exactly what transpired. And she was told prior to the race, begin that it's not possible. It reflects us really bad because now this Saturday is our holy cross country championship and whatever had transpired last weekend, somebody can say, well, if Kaya does it, then I can do it as well."
However, in a written response, Cattouse said she will not appeal the suspension, stating that the race was already her final event with the federation and that she has no plans to compete in any future races under its authority. Cattouse strongly rejected the federation's version of events, arguing that the conflict stemmed from a disagreement over the participation of a foreign rider she had invited to compete. According to Cattouse, she received prior approval from Flowers to bring in a teammate for the women's race and proceeded to arrange travel and sponsorship support based on that approval:
Voice of: Kaya Cattouse, National Cycling Champion
"The suspension itself is not my issue. Um as I have already made it publicly known on Sunday that that it was my final um cycling federation race. So the suspension is neither here nor there to me. The real issue is that Mr. Glenn Flowers, the president of the federation, he gave me direct verbal approval on March 12th, contrary to what their press release is saying, to bring in a foreign teammate to ride with me and even encourage me to bring more riders because of the small size of the women's field."
"Following that conversation, I did exactly what he instructed me to do. I submitted Mariana Valladese's information on March 12th, including her UCI license, and registered her on the registration form that they provide on the Team Loans ToGo."
"The Federation then said nothing to me until March 26. So all this time I was under the impression that everything was good. I got the verbal approval from the president. And until March 26, just three days before the race, this is when I was told by Michael Authurs that she could not ride with me."
"Now, after all that time, travel and sponsorship arrangements had already been made. So at that point, what I believe should have happened was very simple. The president, Mr. Flowers, should have stood by the approval he gave me, or at the very least, acknowledged to his federation that he made the decision."
"And at that point, three days prior to the race, how could he try to come and now reverse this? Instead, Mr. Flowers did not have the intestinal fortitude to stand on his word and he allowed the situation to unfold publicly in a way that made it appear as though I am the problem."
"When you speak to the president directly and he tells you one thing, as a cyclist, now I expect for that to be stood upon. But now, Mr. Flowers, his back is against the wall and he's trying to make it seem like he did not say any of that."
"I mean, I am not an insane person. I have been racing in Belize for over two decades, over 20 years. I mean, we know the ins and outs of cycling. So for Mr. Flowers to come and say this now, I would like to publicly say that something is definitely wrong with him."
Cattouse, who has represented Belize in international cycling for more than two decades, ended her statement by noting that after years of contribution to the sport, the suspension letter was issued even after she had already made it clear she was stepping away from federation races.
