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GB Cycling Team boss Stephen Park invites riders to raise concerns over Richard Freeman case

Ex-British Cycling and Team Sky medic stands accused of ordering testosterone patches for a rider to use

Great Britain Cycling Team performance director Stephen Park has written to riders who were members of the squad in 2011 inviting them to step forward if they have any concerns about the forthcoming tribunal involving former British Cycling doctor Richard Freeman.

Among the allegations levelled against Freeman published earlier this month by the Medical Practitioners Tribunal Service (MPTS) are that he ordered testosterone patches “to administer to an athlete to improve their athletic performance.”

If that allegation is upheld, it could result in UK Anti-Doping re-opening the investigation it shelved last year into alleged wrongdoing at British Cycling and Team Sky, which Freeman also worked for at the time.

Now the Daily Mail has reported that Park, who joined British Cycling two years ago, has sent an email to all riders who were on the national programme in 2011 – a list that would include some of the biggest names in the sport on both the road and track.

In the email, Park said: “I'm writing to all riders who were on the Great Britain Cycling Team programme in 2011 following recent news you may have seen regarding Dr Richard Freeman.

“Of particular interest to the media are allegations relating to a delivery of Testogel in 2011 and, specifically, that it was obtained with the intention that it would be administered to an athlete to improve performance.

“Therefore, in the interests of our ongoing duty of care to you, I wanted to get in touch. I am always happy to hear from any rider who has represented the GB team but if you would like to discuss British Cycling's approach to the MPTS process, please let me know."

The hearing is due to take place in Manchester on 6 February and if the allegations against him are proven, Freeman faces being suspended from practising medicine or even struck off.

Simon joined road.cc as news editor in 2009 and is now the site’s community editor, acting as a link between the team producing the content and our readers. A law and languages graduate, published translator and former retail analyst, he has reported on issues as diverse as cycling-related court cases, anti-doping investigations, the latest developments in the bike industry and the sport’s biggest races. Now back in London full-time after 15 years living in Oxford and Cambridge, he loves cycling along the Thames but misses having his former riding buddy, Elodie the miniature schnauzer, in the basket in front of him.

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pastyfacepaddy | 5 years ago
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Reading Freeman's book at the moment and, even taken with a large pinch of salt, just seems to confirm my existing thoughts on the Parlimentary Committee investigations in that they were purely the opinion of MP's given under Parlimentary Privilege based on little to no evidence and had these opinions / allegations been made outside of that privilege they would very likely have ended up in court and having to be withdrawn.

N.B. The book is a good read and can recommend it.

 

 

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