‘Doctor who doped sport stars lied to woman about her terminal cancer’
THE doctor who allegedly gave performance-enhancing drugs to more than 150 sports stars does not have a medical licence and is accused of failing to tell a patient she had terminal cancer.
Dr Mark Bonar was recorded saying he supplied steroids and growth hormones to Premier League footballers, tennis players, cyclists and boxers over six years.
The clubs named by Bonar insisted the allegations were false and pointed to the fact The Sunday Times, which published the report yesterday, was unable to corrob- orate any of the evidence it had obtained by secret filming.
However, the General Medical Council yesterday revealed Bonar – a former GP at a private surgery in Knightsbridge, West London – is not registered to practise medicine.
He appeared before a medical tribunal in December accused of failing to tell a patient her cancer was terminal so that he could keep charging her for treatment.
Bonar should have allowed the woman to undergo end-of-life care but instead offered a form of potentially dangerous intravenous feeding, the hearing was told.
The 38-year-old, who charged £150 for a 15-minute appointment, also allegedly told the American she could not receive NHS treatment as she was not a British citizen.
It was only when nurses realised her situation was critical that the 46-year-old got help, but she died two months later.
Bonar denies allegations of misconduct and the tribunal is expected to make a decision later this month.
Yesterday, Culture Secretary John Whittingdale ordered an inquiry into the UK Anti-Doping watchdog over claims it failed to take action to stop Bonar when it first investigated him two years ago. He said: ‘I have asked for an urgent investigation into what action was taken when these allegations were first received and what needs to be done to ensure British sport remains clean.’
Niall Dickson, GMC chief executive, said: ‘Dr Bonar does not hold a licence. Any doctor without a licence who continues to carry out duties is committing a serious breach of our guidance, and potentially a criminal offence.’
Bonar denied doping sports stars to enhance their performance and said he had not breached GMC rules.