‘DISHONEST’ FREEMAN STRUCK OFF OVER SCANDAL

RICHARD FREEMAN’S career as a doctor is over after he was struck off the medical register yesterday with immediate effect. The former British Cycling and Team Sky chief medic (right) was last week ruled to have ordered banned testosterone in 2011 ‘knowing or believing’ it was to dope an unnamed rider. And yesterday a Medical Practitioners Tribunal imposed the strongest possible sanction on the 61-year-old — banning him from practising medicine to ‘protect patients and maintain public confidence in the profession’. Freeman had been working as a GP at a medical practice near Blackburn and was also acting as a supervising practitioner at a Covid-19 vaccination centre. But he will now have to leave that job after the tribunal decided to impose an immediate order of suspension on his registration. It means Freeman cannot work even if he decides to appeal in the next 28 days, which seems likely. Freeman said in a statement: ‘I disagree vehemently with the determination of the tribunal. I have the right of appeal and will now consider that option.’ In explaining the decision to erase Freeman from the register, tribunal chair Neil Dalton said: ‘In light of its findings in relation to the gravity and seriousness of Dr Freeman’s persistent and calculated dishonesty, coupled with its finding that he does not have any insight into his dishonesty, a suspension would not be appropriate. Erasure is the only sufficient sanction. ‘His misconduct constituted behaviour unbefitting and incompatible with that of a registered doctor.’ Freeman has also been charged by UK Anti-Doping with two violations of rules related to ordering a banned substance and tampering. He is thought to have requested a UKAD hearing.