Officials defend British cycling

LONDON—British cycling is shrouded in a cloud that “relates to doping,” a legislator said Monday, prompting a defiant defense of its integrity by the architects of the country’s successful Olympic and Tour de France programs.

Most of the questioning of Team Sky and British Cycling leaders during testy exchanges at British parliamentary doping hearings related to a medical package sent to star rider Bradley Wiggins five years ago.

Team Sky head Dave Brailsford ended two months of mystery surrounding the package — that was hand delivered from England to the 2011 Dauphine Libere race in France by British Cycling employee Simon Cope — by disclosing that it was a legal decongestant.

But Brailsford could not say whether there was written evidence that Fluimucil, a brand name for a product containing acetylcysteine used for clearing mucus, was in the package that is being investigated by Britain’s anti-doping agency.

“It’s what Dr. (Richard) Freeman has told me,” Brailsford told the culture, media and sport committee in the House of Commons, referencing the Team Sky doctor.

The hearing earlier heard that the contents of the package were administered to Wiggins, who won the 2011 Dauphine Libere.

Brailsford did not say why Fluimucil could not be obtained in France. He maintained that the route was not “convoluted” and that Cope carrying the package was the “easiest possible way.”

Brailsford’s revelation came after former Team Sky head coach Shane Sutton was questioned by legislators about why he did not ask colleagues about the substance in the package.