Top British cyclist wrapped in cheating scandal after teammate admits he fell on purpose so he could restart race - but they can KEEP gold medal



Hoy, Jason Kenny and Philip Hindes win Team GB's fifth gold

Scot, 36, now has five golds in three Games

German-born Philip Hindes claimed he fell from his bike in an earlier round because he was losing



British Cycling denied the fall was part of a plan and said Hindes' comments were 'lost in translation'

But IOC say there is 'no reason to question the result'

France, who picked up silver medal, said they would not appeal the decision, but called for change in handling these types of incidents



British cyclist Sir Chris Hoy's spectacular Olympic gold medal win is now marred with controversy after a teammate said he deliberately fell in an earlier round because he was losing.



The 36-year-old cyclist equalled iconic Olympian Sir Steve Redgrave's record ­British tally of five gold medals as he powered to victory in the men’s team sprint.

It was one of three golds for Team GB yesterday, who also set a world record in the event.



Scroll down for video



Team GB sprint team Jason Kenny, Philip Hindes and Sir Chris Hoy pose with their gold medals Down but not out: Philip Hindes sits on the ground as he waits for assistance after his fall After the fall: Phillip Hines examines his bike after he fell at the start of Great Britain's team sprint against Germany However, moments after he was honoured with the medal, one of Hoy's own teammates claimed he had deliberately fallen from his bike in an earlier round. Despite the claims, the International Olympic Committee (IOC) said Britain's gold medal would stand. Asked if they would look at the result, IOC communications director Mark Adams said: 'At present there are no plans to do so. Our view is that people were not deprived of a contest. 'I have spoken to the Union Cycliste Internaionale (UCI) and they are obviously aware of the situation. At at this stage they don't see any reason to question the result and neither do we.' Tumble: Hindes later said that his fall was 'all planned, really' The British team was allowed to restart the qualifier after German-born Philip Hindes crashed seconds into the race.

The trio went on to post a world record time and later won the final against France.

Hindes, 19, suggested the crash was part of a deliberate ploy because the British team had made a poor start.

He said after winning gold: 'We were saying if we have a bad start, we need to crash to get a restart. I just crashed, I did it on purpose to get a restart, just to have the fastest ride. I did it. So it was all planned, really.'

The International Cycling Union confirmed that the incident had been reviewed at the time and the result was not in question - so all three British cyclists will keep their gold medals.



Concern: Team officials take a look at Philip Hindes' bike after he went down during the race

Hoy looks shocked and Jason Kenny looks away as Hindes makes the confession about his crash

Emotional Chris Hoy wipes away tears as the team take to the podium

Silver medallists France said the action was not against the rules so they will not dispute the result, but they said it left a 'bitter' taste and they called for a change in the way such incidents are handled.

French technical director Isabelle Gautheron told Reuters: 'The team sprint regulations should be changed. We need more clarity.



'But the best team won, they beat the world record twice, they deserved their victory. They played with the rules. When you crash in the team sprint, it's considered as a false start.'

Last night, British Cycling categorically denied the fall was any part of a plan and said Hindes's comments were 'lost in translation' from a man who began learning English only after moving to Manchester from his native Germany two years ago.

Tainted gold: Sir Chris Hoy celebrates his win by kissing his wife Sarra. But the victory was mired in controversy last night

Hoy and his wife Sarra pose with the gold medal Hindes crashed in the heat, but the race was allowed to be restarted - and trio stormed to a new world record

Early wobble: Philip Hiindes lost control of his bike soon after the start of qualyifing

Hindes himself subsequently denied it was deliberate during a post-race press conference when asked about his earlier comments.

'No,' he said, 'I just went out the gate and just lost control, just fell down.



'My back wheel slipped and totally lost control and then I couldn’t handle the bike any more and just crashed.'

Hoy is now tied with Sir Steve Redgrave with five gold medals – the most by any British Olympian.

Hoy is now Britain's greatest ever gold medal winner with five, alongside rowing legend Sir Steve Redgrave Record breaker: An exhausted Hoy celebrates with coach Shane Sutton at the side of the Velodrome track after his triumph in the Men's Team Sprint Track final

Proud to be British: Hoy soaks up the adulation of the fervent home support inside the Velodrome after his historic win In formation: Great Britain's men ride towards their new world record as the Velodrome crowd look on

Philip Hindes (front), Jason Kenny (C) and Sir Chris Hoy (back) led from the start and never gave France the chance to catch them Packed out: Great Britain's riders were roared to victory by a vociferous Velodrome crowd this evening

Hoy was in tears as Princess Anne presented him with a fifth gold of his career, a second for Kenny and a first for Hindes, 19, who competed for Germany, the country of his birth, as a junior and joined Team GB earlier this year, qualifying because his father is British. ‘It’s quite overwhelming,’ Hoy said. ‘We knew it was possible but it’s easier said than done for everyone to come good on the same day.