Jim Ratcliffe says he'll pull Ineos out of cycling if there is evidence of cheating
The billionaire added he is confident his team are clean
Jim Ratcliffe, the owner of Ineos, has said he would pull his sponsorship of the British squad if there was any evidence that his team were not a clean cycling operation.
The re-iteration of his confidence in Brailsford and the Ineos team comes as former Team Sky and British Cycling doctor Richard Freeman is involved in a hearing where he stands accused by the General Medical Council of ordering testosterone in 2011 to help a rider dope. Freeman denies the charges.
>>> Tour de Yorkshire route 2020: host locations revealed
"Dave will have to deal with that side," Ratcliffe told the Times. "I am not interested in the history, just our watch and going forward. If there are any issues for Dave he will have to deal with those. There is nothing happening in our team."
After Sky announced they were ending their sponsorship of the British team, Ratcliffe stepped in to plug the £40 million funding gap with his petrochemical giant, continuing to provide the biggest budget of any WorldTour outfit. The British businessman says that before he agreed to put his money in rigorous checks were made to ensure he was investing in a legitimate, clean operation.
"We checked all the procedures, everything, doctors’ records," Ratcliffe said. "You buy a cycling team, there wasn’t much legal work to do but we spent a lot of time on due diligence on the team.
"We had external lawyers do those checks, looking at the procedures, testing. We took it seriously. The regulations when we bought, and the procedures in Team Sky, were the most sophisticated and rigorous in the cycling world."
Get The Leadout Newsletter
The latest race content, interviews, features, reviews and expert buying guides, direct to your inbox!
Freeman's tribunal is also investigating whether he failed to maintain adequate records and that he failed to ensure records on a laptop, stolen in August 2014, could be retrieved.
One of the latest developments in the case revealed that Freeman downloaded an academic article detailing testosterone boosting drugs a month before ordering Testogel.
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
Jonny was Cycling Weekly's Weekend Editor until 2022.
I like writing offbeat features and eating too much bread when working out on the road at bike races.
Before joining Cycling Weekly I worked at The Tab and I've also written for Vice, Time Out, and worked freelance for The Telegraph (I know, but I needed the money at the time so let me live).
I also worked for ITV Cycling between 2011-2018 on their Tour de France and Vuelta a España coverage. Sometimes I'd be helping the producers make the programme and other times I'd be getting the lunches. Just in case you were wondering - Phil Liggett and Paul Sherwen had the same ham sandwich every day, it was great.
-
Le Col Pro All Weather Gilet review: warmth, protection and pockets but barely packable
An insulated gilet designed to be worn for the duration of chilly, mid-season rides
By Andy Turner Published
-
I'm a Michelin-starred chef and nutritionist - you could have chicken, rice and broccoli twice a day but it won't make you healthy
Alan Murchison is finding marginal gains in grains in his new cookbook
By Tom Davidson Published
-
Ineos Grenadiers looking for second sponsor in order to return to 'super team' status
British WorldTour team to continue into 2026
By Adam Becket Published
-
Tom Pidcock's coach leaves Ineos Grenadiers, likely to join Q36.5 Pro Cycling
Kurt Bogaerts confirmed to have left Ineos Grenadiers and is expected to imminently follow Pidcock to Swiss team along with soigneur
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Tom Pidcock signs for Q36.5 Pro Cycling after Ineos Grenadiers departure
Olympic MTB champion hails 'start of something special' in three-year deal
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Steve Cummings takes sports director role at Jayco AIUla after Ineos Grenadiers departure
'It’s an opportunity to be part of a culture that celebrates growth, resilience, and meaningful results' says 43-year-old after joining new team
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
'With a few changes, it'll be class' - Josh Tarling optimistic about Ineos Grenadiers future
'Everybody wants to get better and get back to winning,' 20-year-old tells audience at Rouleur Live
By Tom Davidson Published
-
'We've had a difficult year, I've had a difficult year' - Tom Pidcock hints at Ineos Grenadiers tension
Speaking at Rouleur Live, the 25-year-old also revealed that he hasn't enjoyed racing at the last two Tours de France
By Adam Becket Published
-
Ineos Grenadiers to partner with German development team for 2025
Ineos set to partner with German Continental squad Lotto Kern-Haus PSD Bank as an official development partner
By Tom Thewlis Published
-
Where next for Ineos Grenadiers, now Steve Cummings has officially left?
After the Director of Racing's exit, the Tom Pidcock saga needs a final resolution before the team can move forward
By Tom Thewlis Published