The reputations of British Cycling and Team Sky have been dealt another major blow with the finding that former chief doctor Richard Freeman ordered testosterone knowing or believing it was to dope a rider.
That was the conclusion reached by a Medical Practitioners Tribunal on Friday after a hearing which has lasted more than two years and seen plenty of dirty laundry washed in public and was described as a “terrible day for the reputation of British cycling”.
Dr Freeman admitted 18 of 22 charges against him relating to the ordering of a package of Testogel to British Cycling headquarters in 2011, as well as poor record-keeping and inappropriate treatment of non-riders, but denied the central charge regarding its purpose.
“However, the team does not believe that any athlete ever used or sought to use Testogel or any other performance-enhancing substance. No evidence has been provided that this ever happened or that there has been any wrongdoing by any athlete at any point.”
Questions remain for both organisations, though, and Damian Collins MP, former chair of the Digital, Culture, Media and Sport committee, which held hearings into possible violations of anti-doping regulations, said the verdict represented a failure of both British Cycling and Team Sky as a whole.
“This case is not just about the failure of one man to adhere to the rules and the standards expected of him, but a failure at that time of the management of the teams he worked for, including the national governing body of the sport,” he said.
DCMS committee chair Julian Knight said: “The finding that Dr Richard Freeman is guilty of ordering a banned performance enhancing-drug intended for an athlete marks a terrible day for the reputation of British cycling.”
Sally Munday, CEO of UK Sport, added: “In light of today’s verdict, all in sport must send a clear message to staff, athletes and sports fans that doping will not be tolerated.”
