LONDON — Bradley Wiggins called for a fresh investigation on Monday after the doctor who worked for the British cycling team and Team Sky was found to have covered up an order of testosterone that was intended to boost a rider’s performance.
The findings of a medical tribunal into Dr. Richard Freeman’s conduct in 2011 has left a cloud over the sport, sparking questions about who the drug was intended for and who else might have known about it.
No athlete was identified by the tribunal and Wiggins, who won the Tour de France in 2012 and Olympic gold medals in 2012 and 2016 while Freeman was doctor for the British team and Team Sky, said he does not believe the testosterone the doctor ordered was to dope a rider.
“I don’t know anyone in their right mind who would use that (Testogel) for doping in that period, particularly given the amount of testing in that time: the blood passports, in-house testing, out-of-competition with UKAD (UK Anti-Doping),” Wiggins said in a podcast on Eurosport.
“What needs to happen now is to alleviate this assumption that it must have been for a rider. Not necessarily. It might have been for a staff member … it might have been for someone from another sport. Who knows. Was it a mistake? Apparently it was. Then it should be easy to substantiate and show factual evidence.”
Wiggins said he thinks something else may be at play.
“I don’t quite know what the hell is going on. But it needs a follow-up now,” he said. “There should be another investigation and I think that’s probably the best way to do it.”
Freeman has been suspended from working in sports as he faces two UK Anti-Doping charges regarding the Testogel order, which he tried to claim was to treat former British Cycling technical director Shane Sutton’s erectile dysfunction — claims which were denied by the Australian in testimony to the hearing in 2019.
Both British Cycling and Ineos Grenadiers — formerly Team Sky — have said they will cooperate with investigations.
The tribunal resumes in Manchester on Wednesday and is set to determine whether Freeman can continue to work as a doctor as it considers sanctions.
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