The Australian rejected the specific allegations, but quit his role as technical director to avoid any distraction leading up to the Rio Olympics.

Varnish's complaint was investigated internally by British Cycling, with the findings reported to its board on Friday.

A British Cycling statement read: "Following an internal investigation, the British Cycling board has upheld an allegation made by Jess Varnish that former technical director Shane Sutton had used inappropriate and discriminatory language.

"The board wishes to put on record its sincere regret that this happened."

The independent review into the culture of British Cycling, commissioned by the national governing body and elite sport funding body UK Sport, is ongoing.

The internal investigation will be shared with the independent review.

British Cycling's statement added: "The findings of the investigation will help the development of the organisation alongside the independent review into the culture of the world class programme, jointly commissioned by British Cycling and UK Sport, and led by Annamarie Phelps.

"The full text of the board's report has been made available to the independent review. No further comment will be made until that review has reported its findings."

Varnish and Katy Marchant failed to qualify for the Rio Olympics in the two-woman, two-lap team sprint at the Track World Championships in London in March and Varnish was subsequently dropped from the world class performance programme.

Marchant went on to Rio and won a bronze medal in the individual sprint. Varnish now works as a personal trainer, having opted not to appeal against her exclusion from the programme.

Sutton revealed Varnish had been dropped from the elite squad in an interview with The Daily Telegraph in April, saying the London 2012 Olympian had not made the required progress.

Varnish responded in an interview with the Daily Mail, alleging Sutton told her to "just move on and go and have a baby".

Varnish, whose boyfriend Liam Phillips is Britain's leading BMX rider, added: "After 2012 I was told that, 'with an ass like mine I couldn't change position within the team sprint'. It basically implies the stronger woman has to go in 'man one' position because I'm quite glute dominant, shall we say."

Sutton denied making the comments, but an internal investigation was initiated after Varnish's interview with the Daily Mail in April.

Subsequent allegations, including the claims of discriminatory language towards para-cyclists, are incorporated into the independent review.

Sutton was suspended following the claims made by multiple Paralympic champion Darren Kenny and later quit.

Some riders during the Olympics spoke of their desire for Sutton to return to British Cycling, with many speaking glowingly about his influence on the return of six gold medals from 10 track events.

He would be entitled to apply for any vacancy, but Varnish's complaint being upheld suggests a return is a remote possibility.

It is more likely that Sutton could be employed on a consultancy basis, if a rider requests his input and expertise. That may be difficult for British Cycling to justify, though.

But any significant appointments would likely have to wait until a performance director is recruited, while British Cycling is also recruiting for a new chief executive, with Ian Drake stepping down in April.

British Cycling is recruiting for a first performance director since Sir Dave Brailsford left in April 2014 to concentrate on his role as Team Sky principal.

Sutton, for so long Brailsford's right-hand man, was then promoted from head coach to technical director, while programmes director Andy Harrison had the same status. Harrison has led the team since Sutton's departure.

Former cyclist Sara Symington has been linked with the performance director role, but the recruitment process is at an early stage.

Symington, a two-time Olympian, is England Netball performance director, having held the same role with Archery GB until February 2015.

British Sailing performance director Stephen Park has also been linked with the vacancy.