UKAD turn down request for Jiffy bag letters
THE UK Anti-Doping agency have refused a freedom of information request to disclose the letters they sent to Team Sky and British Cycling after the conclusion last month of their investigation into the Sir Bradley Wiggins Jiffy bag. UKAD have been highly critical of both organisations, with chief executive Nicole Sapstead delivering a damning testimony to a parliamentary hearing earlier this year and further comments five weeks ago. ‘Our investigation was hampered by a lack of accurate medical records being available at British Cycling,’ said Sapstead in explaining why UKAD investigators had been unable to identify the contents of the Sky medical package. ‘This is a serious concern.’ She also said ‘the matter was further complicated by the cross over between personnel at British Cycling and Team Sky’ and
sources suggested the agency were even more scathing in writing. But the deadline for the FOI request coincided last week with news of Chris Froome’s failed test at the Vuelta a Espana in September and, after a delay, UKAD ruled yesterday that they would not be disclosing the letters on the basis that it was not in the public interest. The public might disagree. UKAD may not have charged Wiggins, Team Sky or British Cycling with an anti-doping rule violation but their investigation exposed serious issues with the medical practices at both organisations. UKAD provided with a detailed, five-page letter explaining their decision. ‘UKAD has concluded that the information you have requested is exempt from disclosure,’ said the letter. ‘Disclosure would (or at the very least, would be likely to) prejudice the exercise of UKAD’s functions... there is a stronger public interest in the need to protect UKAD’s ability to investigate and prosecute improper conduct’.
Sportsmail