Richard Freeman (physician)

Richard Freeman is a sports physician and doctor who is accused of ordering testosterone for cyclists of Team Sky in 2011.[1] Testosterone is a banned drug under the laws of the World Anti Doping Agency.[2] He faced a tribunal in Manchester, United Kingdom in November and December 2019, but, due to his deteriorating health, the tribunal was postponed to April 2020.[3][4]

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Career

Richard Freeman worked as the head of medicine and head of sports science at Bolton Wanderers F.C. from 2001-09.[5] He began working for British Cycling and Team Sky in 2009.[5]

Bradley Wiggins in 2011. He was granted the Therapeutic use exemption shortly before the 2011 Tour de France.[6]

The General Medical Council alleged that, in May 2011, Freeman ordered 30 Testogel (testosterone) sachets from Fit4Sports Limited to the National Cycling Centre, Manchester. It is also alleged that Freeman claimed that the delivery was a mistake and later asked for confirmation to be sent from Fit4Sports asking for the return of the delivery.[7][5]

On 12 June 2011, Freeman received a jiffy bag from British Cycling coach Simon Cope. An investigation into the jiffy bag, conducted by UK Anti-Doping, revealed that the bag had been moved by Cope in an airplane to Geneva, Switzerland where it was driven to La Toissure, France. The contents of the package is disputed.[8][9] Later in June, Freeman arranged a Therapeutic use exemption (TUE) for Bradley Wiggins to take triamcinolone. Freeman denies any wrongdoing surrounding the powerful drug, stating that he was "abiding by the TUE system".[10][8] Freeman has said that his laptop, where medical records of the cyclists were kept, was stolen from a Greek hotel in 2014.[5] Thus, the contents of the jiffy bag is not certain. Freeman claims that it contained Fluimucil, but the medication is common throughout Europe; this questions the need to have the package sent by air.[9]

He resigned from British Cycling in October 2017, citing "stress related issues".[11][12]

Medical tribunal

The tribunal began in early November 2019, with 22 allegations against Freeman surrounding the incidents in May 2011. He admitted to 18 of the allegations, including the claim "that he asked supplier Fit4Sport to falsely claim the Testogel has been sent in error".[13] The employee who sent the false email claims that "she trusted Dr Freeman because he is a doctor" and also that the 30 Testogel sachets were never returned to the company.[13]

Although Freeman admitted to the allegations, he claimed that the testosterone was intended for former British Cycling technical director Shane Sutton, which Sutton strongly denied.[14] Freeman's lawyer, Mary O'Rourke, had "confrontational exchanges" with Sutton, resulting in him calling Freeman "spineless" before leaving the tribunal.[14] Tensions between Sutton and Freeman were high throughout the tribunal and the latter did not return to the tribunal after the premature leave.[15]

After admitting to 18 of the 22 allegations against him, Freeman requested to have the remaining four dropped in early December, but the tribunal refused.[16] Freeman maintained that he did not order the drug "knowing or believing that it was intended for an athlete".[17] The tribunal was due to restart on 28 April 2020 as O'Rourke was not going "to take risks or play games with [Freeman's] health", after his absence at many hearings.[18][19][20]

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References
  1. "Richard Freeman: Ex-Team Sky & British Cycling doctor to say 'I told a lot of lies'". bbc.co.uk. 29 October 2019. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
  2. Fotheringham, William (5 March 2017). "Team Sky doctor was allegedly sent banned testosterone patches". theguardian.com. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
  3. "Dr Richard FREEMAN". mpts-uk.org. Retrieved 29 October 2019.
  4. Gardner, Jamie (17 December 2019). "Dr Richard Freeman tribunal to restart in April 2020 as former British Cycling doctor 'too ill to attend'". independent.co.uk. Retrieved 13 January 2020.
  5. "Richard Freeman: Bradley Wiggins doctor had 'suicidal thoughts'". bbc.co.uk. 1 July 2018. Retrieved 30 October 2019.
  6. Fotheringham, William (18 October 2016). "Chris Froome says questions remain over Bradley Wiggins' use of TUEs". theguardian.com. Retrieved 17 February 2020.
  7. Slater, Matt (14 January 2019). "Former Team Sky and British Cycling doctor accused of ordering testosterone for rider". independent.co.uk. Retrieved 30 October 2019.
  8. Cary, Tom (15 November 2017). "Mystery of the Jiffy bag leaves a cloud over Team Sky – but what are the unanswered questions in sorry saga?". telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 30 October 2019.
  9. McDonald, Karl (3 March 2017). "Bradley Wiggins, Team Sky and the mystery jiffy bag: explained". inews.co.uk. Retrieved 30 October 2019.
  10. "Dr Richard Freeman interview transcript". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 30 October 2019.
  11. "Richard Freeman resigns from British Cycling". cyclingnews.com. 20 October 2017. Retrieved 17 December 2019.
  12. Cary, Tom (19 October 2017). "Doctor at centre of 'Jiffy bag' controversy resigns from British Cycling post due to ill health". telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 17 December 2019.
  13. Skelton, Jack (8 November 2019). "Dr Richard Freeman 'bullied by Shane Sutton to order testosterone' hearing told". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 16 November 2019.
  14. Skelton, Jack (12 November 2019). "Shane Sutton: Ex-British Cycling coach storms out of medical tribunal after 'doper' claim". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 16 November 2019.
  15. "Sutton won't appear at Freeman medical tribunal on Thursday following walkout". oxfordmail.co.uk. 13 November 2019. Retrieved 16 November 2019.
  16. Magowan, Alistair (13 December 2019). "Dr Freeman tribunal: Former British Cycling medic fails in bid to have charges thrown out". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 17 December 2019.
  17. Cary, Tom (5 December 2019). "Dr Richard Freeman medical tribunal risks being postponed to 2020 after more legal delays". telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 17 December 2019.
  18. Dineen, Robert (16 December 2019). "Richard Freeman's medical tribunal could drag on for 10 months after adjournment". telegraph.co.uk. Retrieved 17 December 2019.
  19. "Freeman tribunal on hold until 2020". cyclingnews.com. Retrieved 17 December 2019.
  20. Magowan, Alistair (17 December 2019). "Dr Richard Freeman tribunal to resume in April and will conclude in October 2020". bbc.co.uk. Retrieved 13 January 2020.
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