Cycling chiefs sideline Jiffy bag doc

THE future of Richard Freeman, the doctor at the centre of the Sir Bradley Wiggins Jiffy bag controversy, was uncertain last night after British Cycling announced plans to appoint a new ‘head of medicine’. The appointment is one of a series of reforms by the under-fire governing body following a review sparked by

Sportsmail’s revelations about the medical package delivered for Wiggins and Team Sky by a British Cycling coach in June 2011. Freeman, who was then working in a dual role for British Cycling and Team Sky, ordered the medication for Wiggins and both organisations have been unable to disprove an allegation that it was a corticosteroid, triamcinolone, because there is no record of what was in the package couriered by Simon Cope. Freeman has told UK Anti-Doping investigators the package contained the legal decongestant Fluimucil. Freeman has been too ‘unwell’ to work for months but British Cycling insist he remains an employee. They also say that though the new head of medicine will have Freeman’s current job title, the role is a more senior one and will report to the performance director. Decisions on rider health issues will be overseen by a new ‘clinical governance committee’ that answers to the board and so removes a degree of autonomy Freeman appeared to enjoy. It will also be there to make sure there is proper record keeping.