'Bouncers called me a cripple'

Paralympic champion Ade Adepitan, the star of a BBC TV programme link who helped win London the 2012 Olympics, claims he was abused by bouncers at a West End club.

Adepitan says he was subjected to a barrage of insults when he tried to enter Movida, a favourite of, among others, Victoria Beckham and Euan Blair.

He claims doormen refused entry saying: "F**k off, cripple," and, "Come back when you've got legs."

The club denies the allegations. Adepitan is one of the "wheelchair dancers" in the BBC1 link, as well as a presenter on programmes including Holiday and Sportsround.

The 33-year-old, who contracted polio as a baby, was a basketball bronze medallist at the Athens Paralympics and is a record-breaking weightlifter. He was a chief ambassador for the London Olympics bid and was awarded the MBE for services to disability sport last year.

He said: "I've been to Movida a few times and never had any problems. So I turned up on Friday night with a mate, who's also in a wheelchair, and started making my way to where they normally let me in. The next thing, the doorman stopped me.

"Another one said, 'It's membership only.' I said, 'I've never been told that before,' and they just said, 'No, sorry, you can't come in.' I was a bit vexed but the bouncer just said, 'Clear off.' So I started to leave and then heard him say, 'Yeah, f*** off you cripple.'"

He says he confronted the bouncer but received more abuse. "He said, 'Come back mate and have a go when you've got legs.' I was absolutely furious. He was laughing in my face."

After a brief stand-off outsidethe Argyll Street nightspot, Adepitan left. He said: "Stuff like this has happened before and I've let it slide but now I think I'm in a position where I'm quite influential and there are a lot of people who see me as someone who does stand up for disability rights.

"If he is willing to say those things to me then who else is he prepared to abuse? It was embarrassing, it made me feel like a fool and, right or wrong, I've got my pride and it was humiliating."

Adepitan, who grew up in east London and lives in Kilburn, recorded an interview about the incident with BBC 6 Music radio presenter Russell Brand. But Brand hit out at the BBC for allegedly censoring the discussion.

He said the interview was cut from a subsequent podcast. Now Brand refuses to allow any of the show to be put out. He said: "Ade's a joyous person, warm and funny and never bitter. I am so upset that this guy dared to say these things to him. I've been to Movida but I wouldn't again."