Revealed: How Cambridge 'plagiarism' Professor 'passed off Rafael Nadal's inspirational quote as his own' - as he quits post after university launched probe

A scandal-hit Cambridge professor appeared to pass off an inspirational quote as his own in an early draft of his memoir - before editors had to step in to clarify that it was actually said by tennis legend Rafael Nadal.Professor Jason Arday quit last night after the university launched an investigation into him, having been at the centre of a growing row over allegations that he had copied parts of his PhD from another student.He also faced questions over a list of seemingly tall claims from his life story. A poster boy for diversity as the university's youngest ever black professor, he was initially backed by Cambridge - which had condemned a 'vile campaign to undermine his credibility'.But after the Daily Mail revealed a string of universities disputed Arday's claims that he held academic posts with them, the university announced it was taking action.Now, a further claim has been revealed about his forthcoming book.The autobiography, 'Great and Unfortunate Things', tells of Arday's transformation from an autistic child who could not read or write until the age of 18, to his meteoric rise to becoming the youngest ever black professor at Cambridge.In an early American advance proof of the book, Arday describes psyching himself up before his interview for the University of Cambridge professorship as if playing a major tennis match by telling himself: 'Somebody is going to have to beat you, because you are not going to lose it today.'While Nadal is mentioned earlier in Arday's preparation for his interview, saying he jogged on the spot, 'Rafa-style', his inclusion of his quote later on is not made clear as coming from the tennis ace.The Mail has learned that editors later amended the UK edition to make it clear that these were literally 'the same' words Nadal told himself during the fifth set of his epic 2008 Wimbledon final against Roger Federer .It comes as Arday, a professor of sociology of education who became Cambridge's youngest black professor in 2023, resigned from his post after the university launched an inquiry into his 'academic qualifications and honorary appointments' .It followed a series of allegations that he plagiarised his PhD thesis and other research. Further questions were asked about the truth of other claims, including saying that he ran 600 miles in six days and that he had raised £5.5million for charity.In the upcoming book, the original version reads: 'This was my final opportunity to experience the pressure of Centre Court under the lights, with the roof closed for added drama. Inside, I waited to be called into the interview room, which lay behind two imposing dark oak doors. Once again, I jogged on the spot, Rafa-style. University of Cambridge professor Jason Arday appears on ITV's This Morning in March 2023 Rafael Nadal plays against Roger Federer in the men's singles final at Wimbledon in 2008'The last thing I said to myself in preparation for the most important interview of my life was: 'Somebody is going to have to beat you, because you are not going to lose it today. You are not going to choke or bottle it. Make it difficult for them. Let someone be better than you, but do not fold, Jason.''In the later version - due to be published on August 27 - this is changed to: 'The last thing I said to myself in preparation for the most important interview of my life was the same quote Rafa Nadal told himself in the fifth set against Roger Federer in the 2008 Wimbledon Championships men's singles final: somebody is going to have to beat you, because you are not going to lose it today.'The addition of the quote's real origin is among a number of changes made between the January US proof and the British text, previewed this week ahead of the book's publication.In the earlier version, Arday addresses an early allegation of plagiarism, claiming a university lecturer challenged him over a dramatic improvement in his marks by saying: 'We're trying to determine if this is really your work.'But in the final UK edition, her phrase is softened to become: 'We're trying to determine if you are really capable of this.'Arday has insisted he is not a 'fantasist' after doubts were raised about his seemingly sensational list of personal achievements.The final edition also drops the US proof's statement that 'some dialogue has been re-created', despite the memoir containing extensive conversations recalled from childhood and other events decades earlier.Specific fundraising figures have been stripped from the book and there is a greater emphasis on Arday raising money alongside other people.The US proof says Arday hoped to raise £5,000 through his 30-marathons-in-35-days challenge but that, after three months, 'we'd raised less than £200'.The UK edition replaces this with the less precise: 'We'd hardly raised anything.'The revision comes amid reports that, despite years of claims that Arday had personally raised millions for charity, the money had been generated as part of larger teams.The later edition was fact-checked by Iman M'Fah-Traoré - a writer 'grounded in LGBTQAIP+, culture and family structure', who has appeared in publications such as The Guardian. How the Mail exposed the truth behind Professor Arday's taleIn a letter addressed to colleagues published on the Good Law Project's website yesterday, Arday announced he was resigning.He said: 'While criticism is an inevitable part of academic life, what I have experienced has gone far beyond scholarly disagreement. The relentless accusations, speculation and public commentary have taken a profound toll on me and on those I love.'Arday said that the 'only way to bring this chapter to an end is to step away', adding: 'This decision should not be interpreted as a loss of faith in scholarship or in the values that first brought me to Cambridge.'Nor should it be mistaken for an acceptance of the narratives that have surrounded me. It is simply the decision of someone who has reached the limits of what any person should reasonably be expected to endure.'His resignation comes shortly after the University of Cambridge announced it had launched an investigation 'following new information about Professor Arday's academic qualifications and honorary appointments'.A statement said: 'Separately, there remains a number of ongoing complaints regarding academic misconduct, which are being handled in line with our misconduct in research policy.'Jesus College said in a statement that it was launching its own process in relation to the allegation.But an online open letter organised by the Good Law Project in solidarity with Arday has been signed by nearly 16,000 people, including multiple MPs, Lords and academics, as well as Green Party leader Zack Polanski.Before resigning, an emotional Arday claimed to the Daily Mail that the criticism had 'destroyed his life'.He insisted that the rising tide of scepticism about his achievement is the culmination of attempts by unnamed enemies who have spent more than three years trying to ruin him.Speaking from his family home in south London, the academic fought back tears as he said: 'This has been the worst period of my life. Professor Jason Arday became Cambridge's youngest black professor in 2023'My reputation is destroyed, my career is destroyed. I'm an 'academic fraud, a fantasist and a liar'.'The sociologist didn't respond to our specific questions on aspects of his various stories that have drawn scrutiny for inconsistency or implausibility - but instead launched into a tirade during which he became increasingly visibly upset.He insisted: 'What's been published about me isn't right. But it doesn't matter what I say anymore, the narrative is already out there.'I can tell people this [these accusations] was a plan for the past three and a half years. But everything I've done over the last 20 years has been trying to be a good person, trying to do the right thing.'I have to accept it, I have no idea why this has happened to me. I don't think anyone is interested in my side of things, it has gone so far the other way.'He went on: 'What can I do - bring out every single receipt? Call all of my friends and get them to vouch for me? My reputation is destroyed, my career is destroyed. I'm [being called] an 'academic fraud, a fantasist and a liar'.When asked about academics who have challenged his work, apparently through use of plagiarism detection software, he said: 'Nobody is looking into this. Nobody is looking into this.'They have forensically combed the internet. Hundreds of FOIs, all of these things that people have done [against me]. The most important thing to me and my wife is charity.'The issue has got nothing to do with me as an individual, I am just a lightning rod for a wider debate on stuff. The one thing I never wanted to do was bring shame on my family and here we are.'I might as well have done all the drugs someone can do, all the whatever, instead of living a straight life I've led and it's got me nowhere.'At the end of the day, if people want to destroy you, they will, and these people made it very clear that they were going to do that and they did.'It doesn't matter what I think. It doesn't matter what I think, nobody is interested in what I think. We are talking about an academic issue here that I was entitled to have private and it's not.'This is a difficult situation. I am the one who has to live with a destroyed reputation. I am the one at the loop with a destroyed career, it's me. I've worked over 20 years for my life and it's ruined.'Arday's memoir, Great And Unfortunate Things, is due to be published by Simon and Schuster on August 27.In a promotional video for the book posted on YouTube, Arday said he was diagnosed with autism as a three-year-old, learned to speak at the age of 11 and to read and write when he was 18 before going on to gain a PhD just 12 years later.A spokesperson for Simon and Schuster said: 'Proofs are uncorrected manuscripts that contain the following disclaimer: 'Do not quote for publication until verified with the finished book at the publication date.' We do not comment on our editorial process.'Professor Arday's resignation letter in full Dear colleagues,It is with profound sadness that I write to resign, with immediate effect, from my position at the University of Cambridge and Jesus College.When I accepted the extraordinary honour of becoming Professor of Sociology at Cambridge, it was, without question, the greatest professional privilege of my life. To become the youngest Black professor in the University's history was something I could scarcely have imagined as a child growing up with a diagnosis of autism, unable to speak until I was eleven years old.The response from so many people across the world was overwhelming. Thousands celebrated not simply my appointment, but what it represented: that talent, perseverance and hope can triumph over even the greatest adversity. It has been the privilege of my life to teach my students, to learn alongside them, and to witness their curiosity, kindness and ambition. They have given me far more than I could ever have given them.Sadly, the years since my appointment have also been marked by an unrelenting level of public scrutiny and personal attack. While criticism is an inevitable part of academic life, what I have experienced has gone far beyond scholarly disagreement. The relentless accusations, speculation and public commentary have taken a profound toll on me and on those I love.I have tried to continue because I believe deeply in the values of higher education, in rigorous scholarship, and in the transformative power of universities. I have tried because of my students, my colleagues and the countless people who have written to tell me that my journey gave them hope.But there comes a point when the personal cost becomes too great.I have a family. I want to be present for them. I want to reclaim some peace, some privacy and some semblance of an ordinary life. I no longer wish to feel as though I am living under a constant spotlight, where every aspect of my life is subject to public examination and judgement.For my own wellbeing, for my family, and for those who have stood by me throughout this difficult period, I have concluded that the only way to bring this chapter to an end is to step away.This decision should not be interpreted as a loss of faith in scholarship or in the values that first brought me to Cambridge. Nor should it be mistaken for an acceptance of the narratives that have surrounded me. It is simply the decision of someone who has reached the limits of what any person should reasonably be expected to endure.To my students: thank you. Teaching you has been the greatest honour of my academic career. Your brilliance, compassion and determination give me enormous hope for the future.To my colleagues and to the many thousands of people, from every corner of the world, who have supported me, defended me, written to me, and believed in me when it mattered most, I offer my deepest gratitude. Your kindness has carried me through some of the darkest moments of my life.This is not the end of my work. It is simply the end of this chapter.I need time to heal. I need time to simply be myself again.And when that time comes, I will return.I will return stronger, wiser and with the same determination that has always defined my journey. There is still so much work to do, and I look forward to doing it alongside so many of you in the years ahead.For now, however, I ask only for understanding, for compassion, and for the space to begin again.With gratitude,Professor Jason ArdayCredit: Good Law Project