Dr Richard Freeman accused of ordering testosterone for staff ‘knowing or believing it was to be administered to an athlete’
The former British Cycling and Team Sky doctor claims he obtained the banned substance for Shane Sutton
![](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/hhmZ32PDaAnfPB8oJjjY9M-415-80.jpg)
Dr Richard Freeman has now been accused of obtaining testosterone for a non-athlete member of staff, while “knowing or believing it was to be administered to an athlete to improve their athletic performance.”
Former British Cycling and Team Sky doctor Freeman is facing a medical misconduct panel over allegations he ordered the banned substance to British Cycling headquarters in 2011 and lied in an attempt to cover it up.
The initial allegations for the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) misconduct hearing said that Dr Freeman ordered Testogel patches to administer to an athlete to improve their performance, however the allegations were altered after the tribunal started.
During the first day of the misconduct hearing, held in Manchester on Monday (October 29), Dr Freeman’s legal representative Mary O’Rourke QC said her client will admit to ordering the substance and to telling a lot of lies, but will deny acquiring the testosterone to improve an athlete’s performance.
Freeman has admitted 19 of the 22 GMC charges, denying that the 30 testosterone sachets were ordered for an athlete to dope.
According to The Times, Freeman will claim that he ordered the testosterone for former British Cycling technical director and former Team Sky head coach Shane Sutton.
Sutton denies this claim however, saying he knew nothing of the testosterone delivery until he was interviewed by UK Anti-Doping.
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Dr Freeman’s new statement resulted in the General Medical Council, which investigated the case, applying to change the allegations.
After getting under way on Tuesday, October 29, the hearing was delayed while the tribunal decided on whether to allow the change of allegation, and on Thursday morning (November 7), the tribunal chair announced that the allegations could be changed.
The new allegation says: “You [Dr Freeman] placed the order and obtained the Testogel when you knew it was not clinically indicated for the non-athlete member of staff
“Knowing or believing it was to be administered to an athlete to improve their athletic performance.”
>>> New ‘ground-breaking’ test to catch blood dopers could be ready for Tokyo 2020 Olympics
Dr Freeman’s legal representative also made a successful application to the tribunal for him to be treated as a vulnerable witness, which means he will need additional breaks, will evidence for no more than three hours per day, he will be shielded from the public gallery when he gives evidence, and he will be shielded from Sutton when Sutton gives evidence.
The hearing is scheduled to run until December 20.
Thank you for reading 20 articles this month* Join now for unlimited access
Enjoy your first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
*Read 5 free articles per month without a subscription
Join now for unlimited access
Try first month for just £1 / $1 / €1
Alex Ballinger is editor of BikeBiz magazine, the leading publication for the UK cycle industry, and is the former digital news editor for CyclingWeekly.com. After gaining experience in local newsrooms, national newspapers and in digital journalism, Alex found his calling in cycling, first as a reporter, then as news editor responsible for Cycling Weekly's online news output, and now as the editor of BikeBiz. Since pro cycling first captured his heart during the 2010 Tour de France (specifically the Contador-Schleck battle) Alex covered three Tours de France, multiple editions of the Tour of Britain, and the World Championships, while both writing and video presenting for Cycling Weekly. He also specialises in fitness writing, often throwing himself into the deep end to help readers improve their own power numbers. Away from the desk, Alex can be found racing time trials, riding BMX and mountain bikes, or exploring off-road on his gravel bike. He’s also an avid gamer, and can usually be found buried in an eclectic selection of books.
-
Steve Cummings replaced by Tom Pidcock's coach in Tour of Britain management team shake-up at Ineos Grenadiers
Cummings was on the provisional start list submitted to the race organiser, but was replaced by Kurt Bogaerts
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Dan Bigham becomes Head of Engineering at Red Bull-Bora Hansgrohe after leaving Ineos Grenadiers
After winning a silver medal at the Paris Olympics, Bigham then left his role at Ineos due to his frustrations with the setup currently in place at the team
By Tom Thewlis Published