Cycling New Zealand's High Performance Director Martin Barras has resigned following the confirmation of "integrity violations" during the Tokyo Olympics. (Open in new tab)

An independent investigation by Cycling New Zealand into the selection of athletes for the 2020 Olympic Games has uncovered violations of Olympic and international cycling rules. The investigation revealed that the process for replacing athletes during the cycling competition in Tokyo did not respect IOC and UCI rules.

Reserves are allowed to participate in the Olympics and may change lineups in different rounds of a particular event, but only in case of injury or illness once a team has submitted its starting lineup.

Campbell Stewart won the silver medal in the omnium after Aaron Gate fell and was sidelined in the team pursuit for the bronze medal against Australia. The New Zealand Olympic Committee admitted to Stuff that the infraction did not involve a medal win.

According to the New Zealand press, sprint coach Rene Wolf has also stepped down and will return to Europe to assume a similar role. Cycling New Zealand chief executive Jack Landry has also resigned after three years in the position. Other key figures have also stepped down.

The resignations come as an independent investigation into the sport is underway and three months after Olivia Podmore's alleged suicide. She had qualified for the Olympics but was not selected and did not compete in Tokyo.

Barras joined Cycling New Zealand in 2018 after a long stint as senior track coach with Cycling Australia. Cycling New Zealand appointed Amy Taylor as interim high performance director.

"Cycling New Zealand has taken swift action following the breach of the code of conduct at the Tokyo Olympics," Landry said in a statement.

Landry said that Barras was not directly involved in the incident, but that as director he was ultimately responsible for the actions of the New Zealand cycling team at the Olympics.

"He therefore offered to resign, which I accepted," Landry said.

Cycling New Zealand has offered support to the athletes involved due to the risk of the incident becoming public.

"Out of respect for the participants who took part in the investigation under confidentiality, no one at Cycling New Zealand can comment further on this matter," Landry said.