Freeman insists he is just a scapegoat
DR RICHARD FREEMAN insisted he has never doped an athlete and feels he has been made a scapegoat for controversy surrounding British Cycling and Team Sky.
Freeman has admitted to a number of charges at the hearing into his fitness to practise medicine but denies ordering testosterone ‘knowing or believing’ it was to be given to a rider to improve performance.
Quizzed by QC Simon Jackson about the ethical line between medical support and doping yesterday, Freeman insisted: ‘I’ve never crossed it. I was completely in agreement with the Wada (World Anti-Doping Agency) code.’
The case centres around Freeman’s claim – which former British cycling technical director Shane Sutton denies – that he ordered Testogel to treat Sutton’s erectile dysfunction.
Freeman described the search for markers of over-training and under-recovery as ‘the holy grail’ but, when it was put to him his interest in testosterone levels was for the purposes of artificially raising them, he responded sharply. ‘I find that allegation or summary offensive. I have never doped a rider. I would never consider it.’
Asked if he felt he had been made a scapegoat, Dr Freeman said: ‘On reflection, I’ve got no sense of entitlement.
‘I did make some medical mistakes, which I’ve admitted to. I don’t believe I was ever the prime target of Jiffygate (the triamcinolone affair in which it was claimed in a parliamentary report this was administered to Sir Bradley Wiggins to help him win the Tour de France in 2012).
‘I think I’ve been caught in the middle of some things so yes I do feel I’ve been made a scapegoat.’