Cycling doctor to say testosterone patches were for staff

RICHARD FREEMAN’S explanation for why a batch of testosterone patches were delivered to the National Cycling Centre — home to both the British team and Team Sky — could involve a claim that they were for at least two members of the management staff.

Both Sky and British Cycling are bracing themselves for the outcome of a General Medical Council investigation that is now scheduled to conclude in a tribunal on February 14, with the delivery of testosterone patches in 2011 central to the inquiries.

As the Daily Mail revealed in March, GMC investigators have evidence the patches were ordered by a senior member of the medical staff at the National Cycling Centre — with a further request then made to the medical supplier in Oldham asking them to send an email saying the package had been sent in error. Last year Dr Steve Peters, formerly head of medicine at British Cycling but still the psychiatrist at Team Sky, told the Sunday Times the patches had been ‘sent in error’ and were returned to the supplier.

Freeman told UK Anti-Doping officials they were not for use by riders — a claim he reiterated in a BBC interview in July.

The Mail on Sunday understands that Freeman, who resigned from his post as British Cycling team doctor last year before facing questions from his own employers about this matter — as well as concerns raised by UKAD’s Jiffy Bag investigation — has told the GMC the patches were for officials rather than athletes.

The Mail on Sunday also understands that the staff members concerned, who cannot be named for legal reasons, have insisted they have no connection to the patches and their testimonies are supported by the absence of any documentary evidence such as a prescription.